Kolkata, Oct 19 (PTI) Tradition reigns supreme innorth Kolkata's popular 'Fata Keshtor Kali Puja', even as itentered the 60th year, with the idol, pandal and illuminationremaining unchanged in all these years.
The Kali Puja was started by Congress strongmanKrishna Chandra Dutta alias 'Fata Keshto' in Keshab ChandraStreet in 1957.
Prabandha Roy, who took over the reins of the pujaafter Dutta's death in 1992, said, "We cannot experiment withthe looks of 'Shyama Maa' (as Goddess Kali is referred to withrespect), and with our rituals and traditions. We cannot letit happen in 'Fata Keshtor Puja' that has become a brand."The puja, which had in the past roped in the likes ofAmitabh Bachchan, Dev Anand and Rani Mukherjee to inauguratethe festivities, has stuck to the same structure of the pandal- the replica of a temple, and also not deviated from theusual fancy lights from Chandernagore town.
Roy, who is also knowns as 'Fanta', is confident ofdrawing crowds this year as in the past.
"If we experiment, people in our locality, the lakhsthronging the pandal on three days since Kali Puja evening andour puja committee members will not spare us. 'Fata Kesto KaliPuja' is like the 'Baghbazar Sarbojonin Durga Puja' wheretradition reigns supreme," another puja committee member said.
He said though the elaborate immersion procession hasbeen scaled down, "On the 60th year, the immersion will becertainly grand, if not on the same scale as in 1970s and80s."The puja has its own Facebook page as well, withregular updates on the festivities every year.
"There might be theme Kali pujas in Barasat in North24 Parganas districts and elsewhere, but 'Fata Keshtor KaliPuja' is the most talked about Kali Puja in the state andelsewhere in India," the puja committee member said. PTI SUSRBT.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.