This year,Durga slays rapists in demon king

Organisers of a community puja in upscale Salt Lake area have put up 11 forms of the goddess out of which 10 are seen slaying demons portrayed as rapists trying to outrage the modesty of women.

“Our theme is to finish rapists. Ma Durga is known for eradicating evil forces and now one of the biggest evils plaguing our society are rapists,” Pradip Sengputa,president of FD block puja committee,said.

At the pandal,one of the demons is portrayed as a man wearing a suit and eyeing a woman.

“We are trying to portray that rapes happen everywhere. The women are suffering and people should rise to the occasion and protect them,” he said.

Another puja organiser in Bhawanipur has weaved a 5-km long handloom saree out of 250-kg thread to portray the need to protect the dignity of women.

“In this 5-km saree we are talking about the need for empowerment of women,” said Subir Das,secretary of Bhawanipur 75 Palli Sorbojanin Durgotsav Committee.

The 5km-long-saree,which has been used to decorate the pandal and drape the goddess before culminating in her ‘aanchal’,symbolised unity.

Durga in Kumartuli Park Sarbojanin Durgotsab has 1,000 hands as a symbol of feminine power.

“The goddess is always shown with 10 hands. But with 1,000 hands we want to convey the message that women need more protection these days given the kind of atrocities that are reported against them,” said Ajoy Ghosh,president of the puja committee.