S1E10: Durga Pujo in 2020 ft. Jawhar Sircar, Anthropologist of Religion

In the first part of the Durga puja special, we were talking about the history of the puja as a public festival.
We were also looking at how the festival gave rise in recent years to a new kind of art and artists and how politics has always characterized the organization of public Durga Puja now more than ever. In part two of the Durga Puja special of HistoryChatter, we look more specifically and more contemporary issues.
How are pujas in private households conducted these days?
What is the nature of politics around the puja this time round?
How is the Covid 19 scare going to affect footfall?
Host, Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay asked these and a number of other questions to former CEO of Prasar Bharati, Mr. Jawhar Sircar, who is also an anthropologist of religion by training and published widely on contemporary politics in India and West Bengal. He shared a number of useful insights, such as how pujas have now become a site of entry into organized politics.
He was quite dismissive of the Bengali sense of discretion and said many will step out enthusiastically, if necessary by ignoring health risks.

Overall though, he was hopeful that the administration would not allow for the situation to get out of hand.

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