WATCH: Durga Puja Organised By Sex Workers In Kolkata’s Sonagachi On Theme Of 'Amader Poojo, Amrai Mukh’
The Durga puja celebrations span over nine auspicious days devoted to worshipping the nine forms of Maa Durga, with Vijaya Dashami marking the conclusion of the festivities.
The work of making a Goddess Durga idol is said to begin only after getting the soil of the sex village. Yet the society likes to keep them separate. Therefore, even though the actors and actresses are seen as brand ambassadors on the banners and posters of various puja committees of Kolkata, none of the celebrities agreed to show their faces in the puja of sex workers. So instead of waiting for others, in the theme of puja, sex workers proudly declare - 'Our puja, we are the face.' This year marks the 11th anniversary of Sonagachi, Asia's largest sex village. The sex workers of Sonagachi in West Bengal’s capital Kolkata organised Durga Puja on the theme of 'Amader Poojo, Amrai Mukh’.
#WATCH | West Bengal: Sex workers of Kolkata’s Sonagachi organise Durga Puja, on the theme of 'Amader Poojo, Amrai Mukh’ (18.10) pic.twitter.com/OseTdJvJSb
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2023
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, members of the transgender community were seen decorating a Durga puja pandal in the heritage tram 'Chaitali' in the Dharmatala Tram Depot of Kolkata. "For the first time, it is happening. We are doing it in the Kolkata Esplanade Tram Depot," one of the organisers from the Puja committee said, as quoted by the news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Durga Puja Pandal in the Heritage Tram 'Chaitali' decorated by members of the transgender community
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2023
One of the members says, "For the first time, it is happening. We are doing it in the Kolkata Esplanade Tram Depot," pic.twitter.com/L1P5s20SD9
One of the members of the transgender community who was decorating the pandal said that their struggle is for acceptance, and they need empathy and not sympathy. "We want acceptance. Our struggle is for acceptance. We need empathy, not sympathy. Durga Maa stays amongst everyone. Durga Maa is very symbolic," Sayantani Ghosh said, speaking to ANI.
Talking about the deity, Maa Durga comes with her family to visit her paternal home and to eradicate evil from society. She is the 10-armed Goddess riding a lion. Each of the ten arms of Maa Durga cradles a weapon, which serves as an embodiment of the Goddess herself, signifying distinct siddhis (powers) while imparting blessings of strength, protection, and progress to her devotees.
This year's Shardiya Navratri commenced on October 15 and will continue until October 23. The celebrations span over nine auspicious days devoted to worshipping the nine forms of Maa Durga, with Vijaya Dashami marking the conclusion of the festivities. This year, Vijaya Dashami will be held on October 24.
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