Silchar, Oct 20: In traditional Durga Puja idols, Lord Kartik is depicted alongside Goddess Durga and her divine entourage. In Silchar, however, a different Kartik has a festive duty of his own.
As Durga Puja crowds spill onto the city’s roads and traffic slows to a crawl, Satyabrata Bhattacharjee, popularly known as Kartik, is rarely among those heading from one pandal to another.
Instead, he takes to the streets, helping manage the festive rush so that others can reach their destinations with fewer delays.
Since 2018, Satyabrata, a resident of Kanakpur Part II in his mid-30s, has been volunteering alongside the Silchar Traffic Police.
During the Puja days, he typically spends his evenings from 6 pm to 9 pm helping regulate vehicular movement, offering his time to a city grappling with seasonal congestion.
“Puja is not just about my happiness; it is about everyone’s happiness,” he says, asserting that it is this sentiment that guides his work.
The motivation, he says, comes from the teachings of his diksha guru, Swami Swarupananda, whose advice to use his spare time meaningfully prompted him to seek a way to serve the community.
“I wanted to do something useful for people. There are so many things that need attention, and I felt I could contribute in my own small way by helping manage traffic,” he says.
He sees no contradiction between the spirit of Durga Puja and helping others enjoy the festivities with fewer hassles.
Silchar’s narrow roads and the seasonal surge in vehicles can turn short journeys into frustrating waits, eating into the time families hope to spend visiting pandals.
Satyabrata believes that better adherence to traffic rules and greater cooperation between motorists and traffic personnel could ease much of the congestion.
His goal is simple: to help commuters reach their destinations without unnecessary delays. He believes efficient traffic management, coupled with responsible driving, can make journeys smoother during the festive rush.
Volunteering, however, is only one part of his day. Satyabrata works at a local division of the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited and also attends to duties at a temple. Balancing these commitments with traffic management requires conscious effort.
An operation had temporarily disrupted his routine, but it did not diminish his desire to return to the streets. He continues to contribute as his circumstances permit.
Satyabrata hopes his example will inspire more people to support their neighbourhoods and civic authorities in whatever way they can.
“Not everyone needs to undertake a major initiative to make a difference. Sometimes, a few hours devoted to a public cause can be a meaningful beginning,” he says.
For Kartik, the reward lies in helping others spend less time stuck in traffic and more time enjoying the festival. While others move from one pandal to another, he remains on the streets, helping them get there.
It is his quiet way of celebrating Durga Puja - setting aside some of his own festive leisure so that others can enjoy theirs.