KOLKATA’S DAKSHINDARY YOUTHS portrayed survivors from an sour attack as their topic Durga Puja for 2025. Photo Credit: Debasish Bhaduri
This year, the survivors of the acid attack came to literally and figuratively – literally and figuratively – in Durga, in Calcutta this year. As part of his theme “Dahan” (Burning), about five surviving acid attacks, along with female theater practices, share their story with pandal hoppers visiting Puja.
Every day, when Dashami, a group of female actors represent a live theater performance in Pandal Puja, sometimes throughout the day, depicting violence against women. Occasionally, surviving acid, four of which come from West Bengal – increase to share their live experience and protest against a crime.
“Durga Puja has received a brand of intangible cultural heritage a few years ago and appeared as a cultural phenomenon on a global platform. It is expected that people will visit our pandal every day. So we thought we would use this reach to increase the awareness of women’s violence, especially acidic attacks. Secrets that together with mystery he said the mystery of Harón.
It is worth noting that West Bengal recorded the highest number of acidic attacks in the country in 48 cases and 52 victims, according to report 2022 of the National Crime Records.
“The sour attack is a terrible crime that is still committed to this day. For our silver jubilee year we only wanted to cross the creation of aesthetic Puja Pandal. We will consider our efforts as successful this year if we can provoke empathy and awareness in a small part of people.
The artist for this Durga Puja is Anirban Das.
After entering Pandal, visitors will immediately encounter artistic images of civil protests against sour attacks. The Idol of the Ten Museum of the Goddess Durg contains a great perforation in the stomach area, which represents the hollow remnants that remain in the life of victims of violence. All around the idol there are artistic renditions of characters from famous paintings such as Mona Lisa, in connection with the pain that women experience in violence.
During a live performance, the actors perform across the pandal and even as an idol, visible through a large perforation in the middle of the idol
“As you can see, there are several mirrors and bandages placed around the idol. The mirrors were all opaque. This is the fact that most surviving acid attacks are known to lose their eyes after the attack and can no longer see in the mirror.
“Festive tricks”
However, Shaheen Malik, a survivor and activist who operates the NGOs of NGOs, said that such initiatives are mere tricks, unless the program of awareness is performed consistently throughout the year.
“It is tragic that people have finally remembered the survivors of American acidic attacks because of the festival. For the rest of the year, these people will not take care of us.
She stressed that West Bengal recently witnessed a large number of cases of violence on women and consistently recorded some of the highest number of acidic attacks in the country.
“It is a pity that the same state, that worship of devi is also evidenced by such violence against women.
Published – 29 September 2025 03:10 IS IS
