Onyo Pujo by Make Calcutta Relevant Again had its official unveiling press conference on 25th September at Offbeat CCU. It is the celebration of the divine feminine, of tradition, sustainability and innovation. In collaboration with Y-East and Hulladek, Onyo Pujo is all about focusing on the circularity of life, of regeneration of waste and taking a strong step towards a greener, safer world. The textile waste idol had been masterfully created by the students of Techno India Group Public School last year and the pandal has been designed by the talented design students of École Intuit Lab, bringing forward the force of youth, new ideas and innovations – all of what Durga Pujo really stands for.
The press conference was a grand success with the presence of the leaders of such ideas – Prof. Manoshi Roy Chowdhury, Co- Chairperson of Techno India Group, Meghdut Roy Chowdhury, CIO and Executive Director of Techno India Group, Pauline Laravoire, Founder of Y-East and Sustainability Director at Techno India Group, Priyasha Singhania, CMO of Hulladek, Shamaun Ahmed, eminent actor and metal sculpturist, Trina Saha, eminent actress, and Satrajit Sen, eminent film director and National Award-winning film producer. With an inaugural song marking the auspicious beginning, the press conference commenced.
Pauline Laravoire began by reminscing her introduction to Durga Pujo. “It was back in 2018 when I first moved to the city of joy and discovered such a grand open-air festival that is Durga Pujo, and I was mind blown by the artistry, the colours and the craft that were showcased all across the city. At the same time, I was also mind blown by how wasteful the occasion also seemed. All of the pandals that are created for this festival are gone right after the festival concludes, the idols are immersed in the river, further polluting our natural environment…So the question that arose was – is there a way we can reconcile our willingness to celebrate together on the beautiful occasion of Durga Pujo and be responsible in the way that we use and showcase resources and then repurpose them? This is what we have been wanting to do with Onyo Pujo with this particular pandal. Y-East, a social enterprise that I’ve been carrying for the past 6 years now in Calcutta is a proud partner of Onyo Pujo along with our other amazing partners such as Hulladek and Techno India Group.”
Prof. Manoshi Roy Chowdhury delivered a heartfelt and optimistic speech on the very essence of Durga Pujo. “Techno India Group could not believe that a Durga idol can also be made by the students with the guidance of their art teachers. I’m so thankful, that today Techno India Group can boast about their student and teaching community… What a brilliant plan has been hatched by our youth so that we can sustainability as a topic. Durga pujo is the platform to celebrate art in all its forms. It’s a wonderful way of showing that our students, our new generation can also do something so grand, which the students of École Intuit Lab have shown this time… Let us be very positive; we have to believe that very soon, we’ll be getting those sunny days back. Bengal without Durga Pujo is unimaginable.”
Meghdut Roy Chowdhury shared, “This year we came up with the idea of Onyo Pujo because it’s about circularity. At the end of the day, what better way to do it rather than taking the very core tenets of sustainability which is something that we stand for very strongly. With partners like Hulladek and Y-East, if we’re not coming together and doing justice to this and what are we even doing? One thing led to the other, and I’m glad to say that the students of Ecole Intuit Lab came forward and proposed to build this very unique design for the pandal. Our hospitality students are also really hyped about this initiative.”
“What’s more exciting is that we’re in touch with the London Thames Parade, ad once the Durga Pujo concludes this year, our textile waste idol is going to be travelling all the way to London, get on a boat, and the London bridge will open up to let it pass through. And finally, The University of Arts, London has very graciously agreed to keep the Durga idol as a permanent installation at their campus. I think this is how an installation gets longevity; a never endling life. That was the idea of Onyo Pujo… We’re also closely linked with massArt’s Preview Puja which starts on the 30th. Preview Puja is a way for us who care about the art behind Durga Pujo to discover it at its purest form.”
Shamaun Ahmed shared that he’s in the process of building a chandelier with bike parts which are being provided by Yezdi, which will be hung at the pandal. “I’ve always been a kabaadiwala at heart. What most people see as waste, I see it as gold, so I’ve always been into repurposing things. Meghdut has given me a timeline of six days to build something that I would take six months for, and that is what Meghdut and I’s friendship is like. I request everyone to come with their families and be a part of the celebration.”
Priyasha Singhania shared, “The waste that we collect from all of your homes, colleges, offices needs to first be repurposed, reused, repaired, refurbished and then comes recycling – so whatever waste we’ve collected or are collecting is all going towards the making of this pandal… Someone asked us recently that if we think this will lead to people recycling more and disposing their waste off properly. My answer to that would be no, it doesn’t occur that easily. But this will definitely give rise to a lot of conversation revolved around waste disposal. The fact that we’re here talking about this today means a lot.”
Satrajit Sen shared, “The Offbeat building, as we all know, is totally pet friendly, and I’d like to let you know that Onyo Pujo is also going to be pet friendly. So please come with your fur friends, your family. On the other hand, everybody is speaking about the need of the hour which is sustainability and recycling so the awareness needs to be spread. These conversations need to happen – that’s how change arrives.”
Trina Saha spoke, “Durga Pujo is a kind of celebration that belongs to everyone. It is an unchangeable emotion that everyone who’s witnessed it can instantly connect to. This time of the year is very crucial for the people who wait for all the work they’re going to get throughout these six days of celebration. And I think it is our duty to be with them and provide our utmost support to all those people whose livelihoods run because of Durga Pujo. I’d like to thank everyone from Techno India Group for taking such an initiative. Putting aside all the hatred and negativity that has been boiling for a while, let us all pray to Maa Durga so that our city may always be filled with love, kindness, and all good things.”
Ishan Ray, the head of academics at École Intuit Lab, then shared the whole design process and trial and errors that him and his students had gone through, and revealed the final design of the pandal. The sustainable measures that were very carefully kept in mind and taken accordingly were evident in their process.
The press conference ended with the unveiling of the official poster and theme song arranged by Music Producer and DJ, Teej, specifically for Onyo Pujo. Onyo Pujo is a marvellous ideation that is being brought to life by a group of ambitious leaders and doers. It is our responsibility now to carry this thought forward in each of our own lives.