Gender-sensitive slogans against sexual harassment pepper the Durga Puja pandals in Bengal to raise awareness

A woman decorates an idol of Goddess Durga at a pandal during the ongoing Durga Puja festival in Kolkata on Saturday. | Photo credit: ANI

Following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, many of Kolkata’s famous Durga Pujas have shared a common theme of women’s safety. Several Durga Pujas in Kolkata have come up with a unique initiative to ensure the safety of women at puja pandals. They will send sensitive messages through microphones to ensure that there is no harassment in crowded pandals.

Celebrities like Usha Uthup and Ritabhari Chakraborty have lent their voices to this initiative. The slogans and ideas of this campaign were launched by Eveready Industries India Limited along with popular Durga Puja clubs like Dumdum Park Tarun Sangha, Hindustan Park and Jodhpur Park-95 Pally.

This slogan initiative is part of Eveready’s new Siren Torch, which it launched for women’s safety. It’s a small, minimalist flashlight that also functions as a 100-decibel alarm when a woman turns it on in case she finds herself in a threatening situation.

Commenting on the issue, Anirban Banerjee, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Unit – Battery and Flashlight, Eveready Industries India Limited The Hindu“This siren flare is like health insurance. We all hope we never use it, but it’s good to have in case an unforeseen situation arises.”

Sarcastic tone

The slogans are bizarre, sarcastic and mind-expanding at the same time. Some of them sound like: “Melbondhon’er ei utsabe Mon’ey raakhben, kacher lok na holey kachhe ashben na.” (In this festival where we become close to each other, please remember: if you are not related, come not close to us),” in the voice of actress Ritabhari Chakraborty.

Or another sounds: “Shubho Sharodiya for you. “Thank you for ensuring that the border remains moving and unwanted movements are avoided,” said singer Usha Uthup.

With hundreds of people strolling on the streets of Kolkata during Durga Puja, crowd control becomes a major problem and occasional harassment and harassment in the evening becomes a common problem for women. This initiative is in response to the common problem faced by most women at these crowded pandals.

Commenting on the association, Ms Chakraborty said: Since Durga Puja is a celebration of the Goddess within each of us, it is crucial to honor this spirit and ensure the safety and empowerment of women. She further said, “As we worship the strength of Durga in this puja, let us also vow to protect the strength and safety of every woman around us.”

“I am proud to be a part of this initiative because every woman deserves to feel as strong as Durga herself, especially during a festival that celebrates her,” said Ms. Uthup.

As the city is still waiting for justice for the young doctor’s death, many small change initiatives are cropping up during this Durga Puja to bring about bigger changes in the society and people’s mindset.