None of that euphoria was seen when the Maa Durga idol from the Chorbagan Sarbojonin Durgotsav puja pandal, where a stampede claimed 19 lives, was brought out for a procession and immersion on Saturday.
On Bijoy Dashami, when idols of Goddess Durga are immersed to mark a daughter’s return to Mount Kailash with her husband Lord Shiva, a final celebration of Her stay at the parental home is marked by music, sindoor khela, and dance, along with chants of “asche bochor abar hobe” (next year, we will again see you).
On Saturday, around 30 men brought out the idol that had drawn large crowds to one of the most artistic Durga Puja pandals this year in Kolkata. The pandal remains sealed for investigation.
A Special Investigation Team constituted by the West Bengal government in consultation with the Calcutta High Court, headed by retired judge Anindita Roy Saraswati, gave clearance to immerse the idol while keeping the pandal sealed till an examination is complete. A deadline of three months has been set for the probe to conclude. Since the incident unfolded, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has been visiting the families of the victims to express solidarity and extend government support and compensation. The police have arrested nine persons in the ongoing investigation. “All rituals were stopped after the incident. As the idol reached the Nimtala ghat with police guarding the trailer from all sides, people gathered to see Chorbagan’s Maa Durga, capturing the moments on mobile phones. A few even video-called others to give details of what they were witnessing. As the idol was lowered into the Hooghly, many had tears in their eyes.
We never imagined Maa would leave us like this,” said another resident taking a final look at the idol.
