Culture Beat Gachibowli / HITEC city

Utsab Cultural Association’s Durga puja in Gachibowli: Demanding justice for Kolkata doctor

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Utsab Cultural Association’s Durga Puja

Gachibowli: The Utsab Cultural Association, representing Bengalis in Hyderabad, has commenced its 12th anniversary celebration of the Dasara Durga Matha Festival. The festivities, which began on October 8, will run through October 13 at NITHM, Gachibowli.

Speaking with the Hyderabad Mail, Indranil Aditya, Joint Secretary of the Utsab Cultural Association, expressed the association’s commitment to celebrating and empowering women. “Celebrating Goddess Durga Matha is synonymous with celebrating women. This year, our theme addresses the brutal murder of a 31-year-old female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. As there has been no justice yet, we are calling for accountability through our celebrations. In light of this tragic incident, we maintained a moment of silence at the pandal yesterday,” he stated.

Kolkata doctor Incident

Indranil Aditya said that the Utsab Cultural Association welcomes everyone, noting that last year’s event attracted around 300,000 visitors from various backgrounds, including people of different religions and cultures.

Preparation for the festival begins three months in advance, with the association ensuring safety and order for the large crowds. “Our biggest challenge is managing the influx of visitors while preventing any untoward incidents,” he added.

Key events of the festival include daily worship of Goddess Durga and the “Annadanam” (community meal), featuring over 40 varieties of Bengali dishes, which is expected to serve nearly 4,000 to 5,000 people throughout the five days daily.

Utsab Cultural Association also extends its outreach through “UTSAB SMILE,” an initiative aimed at supporting non-profit organisations dedicated to aiding the elderly and children. This year, they will provide new clothes for everyone on Nabami, October 12, at 10 a.m.

UTSAB SMILE

Other scheduled events include “Bring Your Own Guitar and Let’s Jam” on October 12 at 12 p.m., a pet-friendly gathering, and cultural performances by various artists. Highlights include “Mehfil-&-Shama,” a Mugal form of Kathak by Tarangini Kathak Kendra, and an evening dedicated to the memory of Salil Chowdhury on October 10, featuring Dr. Satarupa Roy Kar and Sourav Chakraborty.

Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury
Utsab Cultural Association’s Durga Puja

The festival will also see daily pujas performed at auspicious timings under the name of “Durga Puja Nirghonto 2024.”

Speaking on the association’s history, Indranil Aditya said, “Utsab was founded in 2013 to create a family-oriented cultural forum that brings people together to share happiness and enjoy our cultural heritage. Our journey began with the Saraswati Puja, held annually on Vasant Panchami, and since then, we have been dedicated to celebrating our traditions right here in Hyderabad, eliminating the need for long travels to enjoy our festivals.”