The famous pandals erected every year during Durga Puja have been grabbing special attention this year, with their corona themed designs. But two pandals — one with a healthcare worker Durga idol and another with a migrant mother Durga idol — have really turned eyes on social media. By Amitha Ameen
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
Photo of Goddess Durga depicted as a healthcare worker killing ‘coronasur’ has taken social media by storm. In the photos, the Goddess can be seen sporting a lab coat and a stethoscope, killing a coronavirus-shaped Mahishasur, aptly dubbed as coronasur.
The original photo was first shared by a Facebook user, Nittya Paul from Matigara in Siliguri, which later received thousands of re-shares within no time.
It was even appreciated by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor who tweeted, “Brilliantly appropriate #covid19-themed Durga Puja creativity from Kolkata, with the goddess slaying the virus! Salutations to the unknown designer & sculptor #DurgaPuja2020.”
Kolkata Pandal Replaces Goddes Durga Idol With Migrant Workers As Tribute to their struggles Amid Pandemic.
Hardship Faced By migrants during lockdown Theme of many durga puja committees in Kolkata.@its_roishe @MaKamakhya1 @Akanksha_M24 @guggusingh321 @NavyaMukhi2 pic.twitter.com/WcXJjhCyDG— Ankita ????️ ???????? (@Ankita_Arya) October 19, 2020
Meanwhile, some of the other pandals were seen paying tribute to the migrant workers as well. Clay models of migrant workers trying to climb a vehicle were erected near a pandal in Kolkata’s Naktala Udayan Sangha, a community prayer hall.
“Our pandal is called ‘waves’. It reflects the waves of returning migrants from different corners. We have employed migrant laborers from different districts to portray the theme,” said organiser, Anjan Das. ( As reported on NDTV)
Recently, another pandal grabbed attention on social media, after it erected a model of a migrant mother with her kids.
Durga Puja is a celebration of great pomp and fervor in the country, specially in West Bengal. But this year, owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the idol-makers have not been able to make any revenue, unlike previous years. The festival, in general, too is more low-key than usual, owing to the risk of community transmission.
Related: Durga Puja 2020 Bucket List: Check Out These 6 Iconic Durga Temples In India
