We saw the worst migrant crisis in the year 2020. No one would deny that their heart broke when they saw migrant workers across the country fleeing to their hometowns. With no means of livelihood, these migrant workers covered miles on foot to reach their homes. These stories were an ugly reminder of the harsh inequality that exists in our society.
As we are approaching towards Durga Puja, a club in Kolkata has decided to honor these migrant workers and their plight. They have replaced the traditional idol of Durga with a statue of a migrant worker with her child.
The Barisha Club in the city has opted ‘Relief’ as its theme for celebrations, this year. They want to honor the migrant workers, especially women who fought against all odds.
Along with the other idols, two special idols showing the migrant worker’s daughters walking right behind her would be installed. One will be carrying an owl and the other a duck. A fourth sibling will also be seen who will have a head of an elephant, representing Ganesha.
Together, all of them will be seen walking towards an image of Goddess Durga with 10 hands.
The artist Rintu Das shared the idea behind such a beautiful design with Telegraph:
The goddess is the woman who braved the scorching sun and hunger and penury along with her children. She is looking for food, water, and some relief for her children. Durga Puja was still months away. But the indomitable spirit of women walking home with children overwhelmed me. In my mind, they embodied the goddess.
According to reports, this year, the idol won’t have any weapons and the demon will be hunger. It is heart-touching how netizens are applauding these idols and migrant workers, who fought the extreme circumstances.
During this year’s #DurgaPuja, the goddess has been re-imagined as a migrant worker returning home kids in tow, like millions of women did earlier in the year. The goddess stands resolute with the victims of an indifferent government. pic.twitter.com/7PMICTLuid
— Bodhisattva #DalitLivesMatter (@insenroy) October 15, 2020
Why City of Joy,Kolkata is the Intellectual/Cultural capital of India
— Vinay Kumar Dokania ???????? ????️ (@VinayDokania) October 16, 2020
The indomitable spirit of a migrant worker carrying her children,waking 1000s of KM back home,is replicated as Ma Durga’s Idol at a #DurgaPuja pandal in Behala, Kolkata.Most beautiful thing to watch n witness pic.twitter.com/HHDDhPB06F
Durga puja is not only about goddess worship, in Bengal we look for the goddess amongst the common people. She is our family, our mother, our daughter, our sister.
— سننٹوٹو Sunandito (@Sunandito1974) October 16, 2020
This year Ma has arrived in the form of migrant worker with her children.
Joy Durga! pic.twitter.com/t7s9I2SD23
At IFORHER, we are extremely thrilled to see that people will worship the undying spirit of real women this year.