Arjunpur Amra Sabai Club Durgotsav

Brief History of Arjunpur Amra Sabai Club Durgotsav:

• Establishment & Age: Arjunpur Amra Sabai Club, began organizing Durga Puja around 1973. As of 2025, the puja celebrates its 52nd year.
• Location: NC-15, Arjunpur, Taltala, Kolkata- 700059, North Kolkata.

Themes:

• Conceptual and Social Themes: The committee is known for bold, socially conscious, and artist-driven themes.
  • 2024 Theme: “Anyo-Desh” (“Another Country”) – Focused on the Indian Constitution, citizenship, and fundamental rights. The pandal’s concept emphasized equality, justice, and contemporary questions of identity and fraternity in Bengal, offering powerful commentary on current affairs.
  • 2023 Theme: “Ganadebata” (“Deity of the Masses”) – Inspired by the events in Manipur, renowned artist Bhabatosh Sutar crafted a defiant tribal woman as the main figure, symbolizing resistance, resilience, and the strength of ordinary women against adversity. The pandal included live performances, community participation, and an immersive experience with social, economic, and political undertones.
  • Previous Themes: Past years have showcased the daily ballad of workers’ lives, local struggles, and social activism, making each year’s puja not just a festival but a “performance” and dialogue.

USP:

• Bold Social Engagement: Amra Sabai Club is unique for embracing civic, political, and humanitarian subjects – its art and installations often resemble a protest, celebration, and mass dialogue.
• Artist-Led Creativity: Renowned theme-makers like Bhabatosh Sutar collaborate to create processional clay installations and living art, engaging both artists and spectators in meaningful participation.
• Community Participation: The puja actively involves locals and visitors in performances, rituals, and the creative process, ensuring deep social connection.
• Powerful Symbolism: The club uses the Ma Durga idol and her “offspring” as metaphors for community resistance and solidarity, with installations that foster self-reflection and unity.
• Documentation and Legacy: Each year’s creativity is documented and archived for future generations, preserving not just artistry but social history.

Additional Notes:

• Performance & Rituals: The puja often features collaborative acts, live music, and interactive elements, merging art, ritual, and activism in the festival’s narrative.
• Visitor Magnet: Despite its modest neighborhood setting, the club draws visitors citywide, praised in media as a “must-visit” for Kolkata’s new-age, purpose-driven puja artistry.

In summary:

Arjunpur Amra Sabai Club Durgotsav, established in 1973, is a North Kolkata institution for art-driven, activist, and participatory Durga Puja celebrations – renowned for tackling contemporary social issues, celebrating ordinary resilience, and fostering unity through community involvement and powerful artistic storytelling.