Highlights
- So far, West Bengal has reported more than 3 lakh cases of coronavirus
- Due to the pandemic, Calcutta High Court has put out many restrictions
- Durga Puja pandals have been declared no-entry zones for visitors
New Delhi: No crowds, no pandal-hopping – Kolkata is getting ready for an unusual pujo season this year amid coronavirus crisis. But this has not dampened the spirits of the artists. Despite many restrictions due to the pandemic, artists and organizers are finding a silver lining by incorporating COVID-19 as the theme.
One such creativity comes from a Kolkata Pujo Pandal where the artist has shown goddess Durga as a doctor wearing a doctor’s coat and equipped with a stethoscope, killing demon Mahisasur depicted as novel coronavirus. Moreover, instead of the traditional trident, the goddess is seen holding a giant syringe as her weapon of choice.
Along with this, the artist has also shown the goddess’s four children as other frontline COVID-warriors – Ganesh has been portrayed as a police officer, Lakshmi as a nurse, Saraswati as a teacher and Kartik is represented as a sanitation worker.
Also Read: Top Doctors Back Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s COVID-19 Caution Amid Festive Season
The post showcasing the artist’s work was shared originally by a Facebook user and since then it has spread across social media and has garnered many praises, including Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. Sharing picture, Mr Tharoor praised the creative spirit of a Durga Puja committee based in Kolkata which has chosen coronavirus theme for the five-day festival starting from October 22. He said,
Brilliantly appropriate #covid19-themed Durga Puja creativity from Kolkata, with the goddess slaying the virus! Salutations to the unknown designer & sculptor #DurgaPuja2020.
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Brilliantly appropriate #covid19-themed Durga Puja creativity from Kolkata, with the goddess slaying the virus! Salutations to the unknown designer & sculptor #DurgaPuja2020 pic.twitter.com/Q8ZT8EtWfo
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 19, 2020
From the time it has been shared on social media by the user it has gained more than 7,000 likes and has been shared more than 77,000 times.
https://www.facebook.com/nittya.paul.39/posts/718404692364807
Many other social media users also gave a big thumbs up to the creativity.
https://twitter.com/HindolSengupta/status/1318131098547675136?s=20
Jai mata di???????????? pic.twitter.com/McRm2lrFBY
— Sachchidanand???? (@RlSachchidanand) October 19, 2020
Maa Durga as doctor.
Asur as corona virus.Innovation is the name of the game during #DurgaPujo pic.twitter.com/luLscwUA55
— Devlina (@AarKiBolboBolo) October 19, 2020
Many doctors also shared the post on their respective social media. An ENT Surgeon said,
What a beautiful way to show respect to Corona Warriors- Doctors, nurses, policemen, cleaners and ambulance workers. Mahishasur is Corona virus! How creative. Hope Ma Durga helps us overcome this pandemic and everyone remains safe and healthy.
What a beautiful way to show respect to Corona Warriors- Doctors,nurses, policemen,cleaners and ambulance workers. Mahishasur is Corona virus! How creative ❤️
Hope Ma Durga helps us overcome this pandemic and everyone remains safe and healthy ???????? pic.twitter.com/74EaT9Wuat— Dr sarika verma (@Drsarika005) October 19, 2020
Moupali Das, Doctor and Researcher added,
Kolkata’s pandals are always so topical and on point. Ma Durga as a doctor fighting coronavirus.
Kolkata’s pandals are always so topical and on point. Ma Durga as a doctor fighting coronavirus. https://t.co/EiLtxd3fro
— Moupali Das, MD, MPH (@drmoupali) October 22, 2020
In West Bengal, Durga Puja pandals have been declared no-entry zones for visitors by the Calcutta High Court on October 19 in an order that was delivered before Bengal’s biggest festival. As per the order, this time, only organisers will be allowed inside the pandals, limiting the number to 25 for big pandals and 15 for the smaller ones in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
Also Read: We Have To Be More Careful About COVID-19 In Winter: NITI Aayog
In terms of coronavirus cases, currently, West Bengal has been seeing record spike in its daily number of cases for the past two weeks. The state has a COVID-tally of more than 3 lakh cases, of which, more than 35,000 cases remain active and the death count has reached 6,244.
NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.
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