Alipurduar, September 22 (Siliguri Chronicle) – About 26km from Alipurduar town, a group of rural women are set to host a Durga Puja funded entirely through the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme — the state’s monthly cash support for women.
The celebration is being organised by the 200-member Mejbil Mahila Porichalito Durga Puja Committee in Alipurduar Block-I. Most of the members belong to the Rajbangshi community.
This year, the committee could not secure the ₹1.10 lakh government grant that every puja committee is entitled to, as they failed to submit the required documents.
“If we had received the fund, we would have been quite relieved, as it would have spared us the burden of going door to door for collections,” an organising committee member said, adding that they hope to receive it next year.
Committee secretary Kanika Shingha Roy explained: “Every month, we receive ₹1,200 from Lakshmir Bhandar. We, 20 members, donated our one-month assistance in advance to make bookings. Later, other members contributed from their Lakshmir Bhandar funds as well.”
The committee’s 20 executive members have together contributed ₹24,000, while other members are pitching in between ₹300 and ₹500 each. So far, around ₹90,000 has been raised.
The organisers estimate they will need at least ₹2 lakh for the celebrations, and some local residents have also come forward with support. Resident Narayan Sarkar has donated the Durga idol.
From Saptami to Navami, khichri and sabji will be served at the pandal for about 300 people every day. Locals Kuntal Barman and Kajol Sarkar have pledged to sponsor the meals on Saptami and Ashtami, but funding for Navami is still uncertain.
“If no donor comes forward, the committee will bear the cost,” said a member of the organising committee, noting that it would cost about ₹40,000 per day.
This year marks the 13th edition of the Mejbil puja, held along the Alipurduar–Falakata Road. In earlier years, women in the area would only hear the sounds of dhak and loudspeakers from neighbouring villages. Determined to have their own celebration, they formed an all-women committee, with men stepping in only for secondary support.
From Panchami to Navami, children and folk groups from neighbouring areas will perform at the pandal. “We have to pay the performers, decorators, lighting and audio equipment suppliers. Managing funds is always a challenge, but we have kept the tradition alive for 13 years,” said Kanika.
