New Delhi: For 19-year-old Akansha, this Durga Puja was more than a visit to a pandal.
The experience, she said, made her feel a sense of calm and purity. Visually impaired, she was able to touch a replica of Goddess Durga, experience the rituals more closely and listen to the story of the deity through an audio feature.
Led by an NGO, Svayam, in partnership with UNESCO Sarbojanin Durga Puja Society on Pandara Road, Timarpur and Civil Lines Puja Samity, and Durgotsab GK 2, the initiative aims to ensure that people with different accessibility needs can participate in the festivities with greater independence and comfort. The initiative, which began in 2025, now includes levelled pathways from entrances or drop-off points to the idols, ramps wherever there are changes in ground level, Braille signage, calm rooms, designated quiet hours and tactile replicas of idols for visually impaired visitors, said Dr Gautam, president, Pandara Road Durga Puja Committee “Accessibility is not only for persons with disabilities. Because a steep or slippery ramp can make it difficult for a wheelchair user to move safely,” Himika Chaudhuri, a member of the core committee, said, the gradient of the ramp is important.
It was a really great experience,” Akansha told TOI, describing her first such experience at a Puja pandal. Chaudhuri said the arrangements were intended to make the Puja experience more meaningful for visitors who may otherwise face barriers while navigating crowded pandals. “I felt Durga Maa. Her experience was part of an initiative to make Durga Puja celebrations more accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities (PwDs) and persons with reduced mobility (PRMs) across Delhi-NCR. It is also for people with reduced mobility, including those who may be facing temporary physical difficulties. The initiative extends beyond physical infrastructure. Participating pandals have incorporated inclusive cultural programmes featuring visually impaired schoolchildren, acid attack survivors and an autistic band. Svayam is also conducting sensitisation sessions for volunteers to help them understand and respond to the needs of visitors with disabilities and reduced mobility.