For 30 homemakers at Baganiapara, a neighbourhood in Nadia’s Nabadwip, a monthly financial benefit meant to help run their households has become the seed money for a long-cherished dream.
By pooling one month’s allowance under the state government’s flagship financial assistance scheme — the Annapurna Yojana — the women have organised Durga Puja in their locality for the first time, turning a modest contribution into a celebration of community and collective enterprise.
The idea stemmed from a simple but deeply felt need: to bring Bengal's biggest festival closer to home. The nearest Durga Puja pandal, in neighbouring Chhoto Angina, is nearly 1km away. Though the geographical distance was not great, the women said they never felt a sense of belonging at that pandal. Many travelled nearly 2km to offer prayers at the Abhoya Maa temple in Nabadwip’s Panchmatha More.
This year, they decided they would no longer have to go elsewhere to soak in the festive spirit. Since Mahashashthi, Baganiapara has been celebrating Durga Puja in a newfound atmosphere of togetherness. Women who once watched the festivities from a distance at other pandals are now taking centrestage as organisers.
“We could never celebrate and enjoy Durga Puja earlier in the way we have been able to this time. The other pandals are 1km or 2km away from our homes, where we were merely spectators. This time, we decided to organise the Puja at our doorstep, using one month’s Annapurna Yojana benefit,” said Sampa Das, president of the Baganiapara Mahila Puja Committee, who first conceived the idea and shared it with neighbouring homemakers.
Sampa's proposal found immediate support among other women. Preparations began in August. A formal Puja committee was formed and a bank account was opened.
Thirty homemakers agreed to contribute their monthly allowance of ₹3,000 each, building a corpus of ₹90,000. The state government gave financial assistance worth ₹1 lakh, helping turn the dream into reality.
“We have resolved that as long as we continue to receive financial assistance under this scheme (Annapurna Yojana), we will contribute one month’s sum towards our Durga Puja. We will also approach the state government for extra support,” said committee member Sunanda Ghosh.
“Earlier, we received ₹1,500 under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme (of the Mamata Banerjee government). The increased amount of ₹3,000 provided by the Suvendu Adhikari government encouraged us to fulfil our dream of organising Durga Puja,” Sampa said.
The women's decision to contribute to the Puja was voluntary. Although several other women in the locality also receive Annapurna Yojana benefits, the committee did not insist that they donate.
The women in the committee arranged rituals, entertainment programmes and "bhog" as part of their Durga Puja. “Organising Durga Puja is a wonderful feeling. We hope more women contribute one month’s Annapurna scheme money to this Puja, which is our neighbourhood's pride,” said committee member Pamela Saha.