A new exhibition and discussion programme at Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park is presenting Kolkata’s Durga Puja heritage as a form of public culture, highlighting its links with art, urban life, community participation and traditional craft. The programme began on Monday and is scheduled to continue until Wednesday.
The initiative has been organised by architect and urban designer Anjan Mitra, who works on cultural heritage and inclusive development, in collaboration with photographer and electronics engineer Aniruddha Guha Sarkar. The event uses photographs, information panels and discussion sessions to explain the many dimensions of Kolkata’s historic Durga Puja tradition.
According to the report, the exhibition seeks to show that Durga Puja extends beyond a religious ceremony. It presents the festival as an important part of Kolkata’s public life, where artistic expression, creative imagination and collective participation come together in shared urban spaces.
The programme also focuses on the knowledge and skills embedded in the tradition. The exhibition highlights the work of artisans, traditional forms of knowledge and the role played by local communities in sustaining the festival. Kolkata’s Durga Puja has been recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, a designation that has drawn attention to the cultural practices, craftsmanship and social participation associated with the festival.
The discussions at CR Park are examining the relationship between festivals and urban culture. This places the exhibition within a wider conversation about how cities express identity through public events and how cultural traditions can shape the use and meaning of neighbourhood spaces. The programme is also intended to create dialogue between communities and design professionals.
Mitra said festivals can express a society’s shared cultural identity while creating opportunities to preserve traditional skills and knowledge. He also emphasised their connection with the informal economy, including the artisans and workers whose contributions support cultural events.
The organisers expect the exhibition and discussions to contribute to new perspectives on urban design and cultural conservation. By bringing documentation of Kolkata’s Durga Puja to CR Park, the programme is using a Delhi neighbourhood with a strong Bengali cultural association as a setting for examining how heritage travels, adapts and remains part of contemporary city life.
