Kolkata: The 263-year-old Shobha Bazaar Rajbari Durga Puja, which welcomed thousands of spectators during the five-day festival, is less crowded this time due to the Covid-19 epidemic. A member of the Rajbadi Durga Puja family said that in view of the epidemic, only 25 people are being allowed to enter the premises at a time. It was started in 1757 by King Navakrishna Deb. This time Pooja has adopted many health protection measures to stop the spread of the disease.
Sumit Narayan Deb, a descendant of Navi Krishna’s adopted son Gopi Mohan, said, “We have installed a sanitizer tunnel before entering the courtyard and only 25 people are being allowed to enter at a time. We have also arranged temperature checks and made it mandatory to wear a mask. ”
This pooja is also known as Shobha Bazar Rajbadi “Bodo Taraf”. He said that in the previous year’s thousands of devotees used to come here but this time the situation is different. On the other side of Shobha Bazar Rajbari is ‘Chhota Rajbari’ which was also built by Navakrishna later when his son Rajkrishna was born. Durga Puja has been organized by her descendants there for 231 years.
Alok Krishna Deb, in-charge of Shobha Bazar Rajbadi “Chhoto Taraf” Pooja, said that due to the epidemic, the entry of spectators is restricted and only people close to the family are being allowed. One of the other major domestic worship pavilions in the city is “Bonedi Barir”. Durga Puja has been celebrated at Rani Rasmani’s house in Janbazar for more than 200 years but this time also visitors are not allowed to enter the premises.
Prasoon Hajra, a member of the family, said, “We cannot allow distant relatives and family friends to come in the courtyard where the mother’s court is punished. Only close relatives are allowed. ” He said that only priests and their assistants are allowed to approach the statue.
