The day before Mahalaya was a grandiose occasion at Techno India University with the unveiling ceremony of the Durga Idol 2024, aptly named the Mahashakti Mahotsav. As the divine fortnight approaches, Techno India Group is taking steps to foster a culture of eco-friendliness and sustainability. A Durga idol made entirely out of tissue paper, this remarkable feat was achieved by the students of Techno India Group Public School, under the guidance of their teachers and mentors.
The ceremony was enriched with the presence of two very eminent guests, the famous vocalist-pianist duo, Sourendro Mullick and Soumyojit Das. Joining them were the pioneers of innovation: Prof. Manoshi Roy Chowdhury, Co-chairperson of Techno India Group; Meghdut Roy Chowdhury, Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of Techno India Group; and Pauline Laravoire, Sustainability Director of Techno India Group. The event began with a powerful inaugural dance, followed by the auspicious lighting of the lamp ceremony with a medley of Mahishasurmardini songs sung by the brilliant students of Techno India Group Public School, Ariadaha.
Prof. Manoshi Roy Chowdhury shared, “This is the third year that the students of Techno India Group have crafted a Durga Idol keeping sustainability in mind. Last year they made it out of fabric waste; and we’re constantly in awe of how much people really admire it. Every person walking down the halls of Techno takes a picture standing next to the idol, which made me realise that for us, art isn’t just a subject. Art is a passion for us, and just like that, we’ve stepped into the third year. Art in any form, be it painting, music, dance – gives us the inspiration to be the better version of ourselves… As Bangalis, we’re nothing without our Durga Pujo. I want to thank our students and very importantly our teachers, because of whom today we can proudly say that our Durga idol has been made solely by our very own students. I’d also like to heartily thank Sourendro and Soumyojit for being here to inspire our students despite having such a busy schedule. They’re not only inspiring our students but are also inspiring art, culture – all of which represents our very own Maa Durga.”
Soumyojit Das spoke, “To me, Durga Pujo is absolutely a celebration of art. It’s in the new clothes we wear, the new music we listen to, the new stories we read in the souvenir magazines during pujo… I’d like to share something very important with all of you. While working with Sourendro all these years, we’ve travelled, we’ve created music, we’ve done all the things that our hearts desired. But in a society that teaches us to follow a single path, people often have to subdue their wishes in order to fit in. I find all of you to be so incredibly creative, talented and driven – please never wait for somebody’s validation to be who you want to be. I think that is what our main motto is.”
Sourendro Mullick took to the stage and shared, “We’re so honoured to be here today. We’ve partnered with Techno India Group in so many projects till now, but this time it’s even more special because our Durga idol is going to be on a journey on the Thames River in London. I thank Ma’am and Meghdut for thinking of this concept and putting it together.”
Meghdut Roy Chowdhury shared, “Durga Pujo is the biggest public art festival in our country and it’s something we should be so proud of. With the billions of dollars of revenue that our festival brings in which again goes back to our own economy, I think we are responsible to spread the word all over the world about how special this celebration truly is. Keeping this in mind, some of us friends, we began a platform called massArt through which we bring in people from all over the world and show them the cultural phenomenon that happens during Durga Pujo; it is unparalleled in terms of the artistry, the social importance, our cultural heritage and the social fabric of our nation… The reason I’m talking about this is because we’re moving more and more towards a society where collaboration is important. It’s important for us to join hands and share our celebration with the whole world because there’s truly nothing like Durga Pujo anywhere.”
All the guests and attendees then moved to the main lobby of Techno India University to begin the unveiling of this year’s Durga idol. With the rhythmic sound of dhaak and the collective hailing of Maa Durga, the curtains were drawn back and our Durga idol was revealed. This was followed by an intense dhunuchi-naach session that heightened everyone’s spirit and ended yesterday’s event with the ultimate sign, that Maa Durga is here.
Techno India Group wishes everyone a very happy, healthy, and joyous Durga Pujo.