Shoes and slippers of Chorbagan visitors still remain near the pandal
Exactly a week after the stampede claimed 19 lives, the mood remains sombre. The loss of 19 lives is tragic and painful.
This time, we have abstained from doing anything celebratory,” said Sathi Ghosh, a resident of Parbati Ghosh Lane. I hope Ma will forgive us and return next year to bless us,” said Nehal Jain, a resident of Basak Bagan Lane. Kolkata: The guard rails at the entrance and exit of the sealed Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal mark a boundary that residents have been forced to live with over the past week. Even as police stand guard, preventing entry into the park that once drew a sea of visitors, people from outside the neighbourhood are arriving to take photos from a distance, turning the site of a tragedy into a place of grim curiosity. The usual bustle of Durga Puja has given way to silence, sadness and a sense of disbelief. For residents, the absence of festivities has been as striking as the police barricades. There have been no customary exchange of greetings, distribution of sweets or visits to friends’ and relatives’ places. “Durga Puja is a grand affair in our area. We visit all the neighbourhood pujas, too. The loss continues to weigh on the neighbourhood, where the puja had long been a source of collective pride. “We are yet to come to terms with what happened. Many residents stepped out of their homes. For some, the farewell was an occasion for prayer and introspection. “I touched the goddess’s feet and sought forgiveness. We have made her sad and angry with our actions. Somewhere, we forgot the main idea was worship and not about flaunting crowds and themes.
The contrast is difficult to separate from the events of a week earlier, when the pandal became the scene of a stampede. The neighbourhood’s grief found expression on Saturday evening, when the idol was brought out for immersion.
The entrance and exit should be spacious, and there must be adequate lighting and air-conditioning inside the pandal,” said Swapan Banerjee, a resident of Parbati Ghosh Lane. Safety for future celebrations has been an immediate concern. Residents want organisers and authorities to ensure such an incident is not repeated. “Authorities must ensure organisers do not flout safety norms and play with people’s lives. The police cordon has also altered everyday life. Some residents, whose homes fall within the sealed area, have been issued gate passes. Inside the restricted zone, reminders of the stampede remain undisturbed. Shoes and slippers lie scattered and broken pieces of furniture are stacked near the entrance, bearing witness to the lives snuffed out and the celebrations stamped out.