What does it mean to be wise if one chooses to remain silent in the face of injustice? Sadanga Durgotsav Samiti’s 49th Durga Puja seeks to confront this question through its theme, Hutom Peychar Noksha, drawing on the familiar image of the owl as a silent observer of society.
1 5
All pictures: Soumyajit Dey
Inspired by Hutom Peycha, the iconic literary persona created by Kaliprasanna Singha, the theme turns the act of watching into a commentary on social apathy, questioning whether people have gradually become mute spectators of injustice or have always chosen silence over action.
2 5
“During the disrobing of Draupadi in the Mahabharata, the assembly was filled with wise men, yet they chose to remain silent. Similarly, even today, we worship young girls on Nabami as part of the Kumari Puja ritual, and Maa Durga herself embodies feminine power. However, when crimes and atrocities are committed against girls and women, society often remains silent. Not everyone comes together to take proactive steps,” said Gourab Marik, assistant secretary of the committee.
3 5
The owl, he explained, is more than a creature that watches from the sidelines. It represents those considered wise and respected in society who witness wrongdoing but refrain from speaking out or taking action. Through this symbolism, the puja seeks to question the gap between the values people uphold in religious and cultural traditions and their responses to injustice in everyday life.
4 5
“Maa Durga, the embodiment of strength whom we worship, herself raises questions about this silence,” Marik said, highlighting the contradiction between worshipping the goddess as a symbol of feminine power and failing to stand up against violence and oppression faced by women.
5 5
The pandal has been conceptualised by Amit Sen, who has also created the idol.