November 27, 2015
Republic Day like Puja procession from next year, proposes CM
How about watching Durga Puja processions from Red Road, on the same lines of the Republic Day parade? This is exactly what Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has in mind.
She shared the idea with the audience at Nazrul Mancha on Thursday . The occasion: the Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman awards ceremony .
“Next year onwards, we shall have all winners of the Sharad Samman have their idol immersion on the same day. They will line up in processions along Red Road, and we could have everyone watching from the stands like they watch the Republic Day programme,” the Chief Minister said while giving out the awards at Nazrul Mancha.
The idea struck the Chief Minister while watching the Jagadhhatri puja immersions at Chandernagore.
Mamata Banerjee said plans had already been discussed and would be executed next year. Since last year, after creating Bengal’s very own brand ‘Biswa Bangla’, the state government christened the awards as Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman, expanding the ambit of the accolades to foreign shores.
This year, the Houston Durgastav Society , USA, Bong Connection, Dubai, and the Mahamaya Durgapuja Ujjapan Parishad, Bangladesh, won from this category .
The Chief Minister said a data bank of the winners will be created and the puja organisers from other states and countries will be invited to participate in key events in the state, like the film festival and the book fair.
Mamata Banerjee also made the government’s intentions of hardselling Bengal’s handloom and handicrafts across the world. “Just wait and see where we take Biswa Bangla to. It will be one of the best brands on the world forum,” she said.
