Dumdum Park’s Tarun Dal, which will be celebrating its 49th Durga Puja this year is set to explore the eternal connection and togetherness that has bound mother nature — as a theme for this year.
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Pictures by: Amit Datta
The theme, Jot, which means bond, begins with the scientific idea of elements coming together to form DNA, cells and eventually the human body, and extends this idea to human civilisation — individuals form families, families form communities, and communities form societies.
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The concept then explores connection through language and art: sounds become words, words become language, lines become art, notes become ragas and melodies become songs. History, too, is shaped by alliances, from the Vanara Sena of the Ramayana and the coalitions of the Mahabharata to modern-day alliances.
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Conceptualised by Purnendu Dey, with Siddhartha Pal taking the charge of crafting the idol, Tarun Dal has envisioned nature as another example of togetherness — bees form hives, birds build nests, droplets form clouds and leaves create forests.
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The theme also connects this balance with humanity’s relationship with nature: when that bond weakens, harmony gives way to imbalance.
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Finally, the theme draws on the collective creation of Goddess Durga. When evil threatened creation, the gods united their divine energies to manifest Durga, making her a symbol of collective strength. Thus, Jot celebrates the idea that every creation begins with a connection, and lasting strength comes from bonds between individuals and forces.