Durga Puja, despite officially being a festival of Hindus, have practiced syncretic culture in West Bengal with Kazi Nazrul Islam singing hymns of the Devi and Muslims participating in the festival.
Ma’am/ Sir,
Durga Puja, despite officially being a festival of Hindus, have all along practiced syncretic culture in Bengal with Kazi Nazrul Islam singing hymns of the Devi and Muslims participating in the festival unhesitatingly as sponsors promoters organisers or spectators.
Yet how can religious muscle-flexing, one-upmanship, untouchability, hatred have started infiltrating the erstwhile divine all-embracing ambience of Durga Puja!
Amidst this depressing environment, a particular Pictorial message has arrived as manna from heaven, balm upon injured heart and much needed relief from a suffocating environment of hatred and vitriol.
It depicts a Hindu boy immersing a miniature Durga idol amidst rain by stepping in a pond, but sheltered safely under an umbrella held up by his smiling Muslim friend with the message announcing "Prithibita Manusher Houk" (May the world be of human beings).
When will the society indeed attain that ultimate height of humanity transcending all petty barriers of race language religion Caste Colour nationality and unite as a single whole!
Thanking you,
K. Chatterjee,
Kolkata.