Kolkata: Complexes gear up to go big on Ganesh Puja after 2 years

KOLKATA: Gated communities across the city are gearing up for Ganesh Puja, the first big festival heralding the festive season, after two years of pandemic. From puja to community dinner to distribution of bhog, committees at different housing complexes have already chalked out their plans.
While some complexes will be purchasing ready-made idols, big housings have ordered life-sized idols from Kumartuli.For the last two years, the celebrations were curtailed due to the pandemic, with only a few people attending the puja while bhog was handed over in boxes. But this time, housing society members expect participation similar to that of the pre-pandemic times.
"Our Independence Day celebration saw almost double the footfall compared to that before the pandemic. Everyone in the complex is eager to participate and celebrate together now. We are expecting the same euphoria during Ganesh Puja, which we plan to celebrate in a grand way after two years," said Manish Das, secretary of the residents' welfare association of Sunrise Point, a complex with 480 apartments in New Town.
Ganesh Puja, which gained prominence in Kolkata over the past decade, has become a permanent fixture in the city's festive calendar, and instead of a few pockets celebrating the festival earlier, it is now organised across the city.
"Ganesh Puja is organised in the community hall of our complex," said Rahul Jain, joint secretary of the Sangam Housing Society on Diamond Harbour Road.
Many complexes have increased the scale of the puja this year. "We would previously organise Ganapati Puja on a small scale. But this year we have decided to go big. We will also be distributing bhog to 2,000 people outside our complex," said Ankit Agarwal, secretary of the RWA of Executive Palace on VIP Road.