Workers in the pandals come from the districts across West Bengal to give shape to the themed extravagant artwork that bring the Durga Puja to life.
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI
Behind the scenes of Durga Puja grandeur remains the round-the-clock duty by workers in critical sectors that keep Durga Puja festivities running without disruption. With no participation in festive fervour, emergency staff, food industry employees, security personnel, among others remain largely unseen amid the celebrations.
At Chorbagan Durga Puja Pandal in north Kolkata, Milan, a painter in his early 20s sits with a bucket of paint and chips away at the last strokes of his painting waiting to go home before the festivities are in full swing. Married at a young age, Milan has a family waiting at home in West Bengal’s Nandigram. He remains worried if he will be able to finish work on time and make enough money to take back some festive goodies for his family.
On the southern fringes of the city, near Rajdanga Udayan Sangha, tea seller Jagdish Shaw spends sleepless nights circling the pandal as he awaits customers, hoping to make a little extra cash. “People told me there is a huge crowd at the pandal, I should sell tea here. I came here with faith, but not a single person bought a cup,” a 50-year-old tired Mr. Shaw says while his first customer walks up to him.
Wiping away his sweat, Mr. Shaw worries that even Kolkata’s grandest celebrations and festivities are failing to assure a few gifts for his family.
Police officials are also on constant duty in the city to keep traffic moving when lakhs of pandal hoppers start flocking to the streets. Family time, rest, or festive joys are far from them. As the festivities progress, the crowd surge, and emergency service duties become tougher.
Police officials are also on constant duty in the city to keep traffic moving when lakhs of pandal hoppers start flocking to the streets.
| Photo Credit:
DEBASISH BHADURI
“For almost two weeks we work on four hours of sleep. From 2 p.m. to sometimes the next day early morning, I am on the road managing traffic and crowd. So are all my colleagues. We can hardly go home and spend time with our families. The festivities are not the same for us,” Ayan Gupta, a traffic sergeant in south Kolkata told The Hindu.
Similar are the scenes in the medical emergency services industry. Even though Outpatient Department (OPD) services remains closed in hospitals during the four days of the festival, every other service remains 24*7.
“There have been puja evenings when multiple heart attack patients arrived one after another, requiring urgent angiograms and primary angioplasties. In such moments, the rituals outside take a back seat… This commitment comes with personal sacrifices. While families and guests gather at home, many of us are absent,” Dr Dhiman Kahali, Cardiologist at BM Birla Heart Hospital said. He added that as medical professionals it is their duty to keep the essential services available for the larger society at all times.
Other sectors like dhaakis (traditional drummers), artisans, labourers, food industry workers, contribute largely to ensure the festivities run smoothly for the lakhs of people who take part in the Durga Puja festival. Many face severe economic crunch even though they form the backbone of the grandeur.
Published – September 28, 2025 04:33 am IST
