Journalists Bring Durga Puja Cheer to More Than 400 People in South Dinajpur

Senior Correspondent.TOD.Balurghat 

In an effort to ensure that the joy of Durga Puja reaches people from all sections of society, the South Dinajpur Journalists’ Club organized a distribution programme on Sunday, handing out festive gifts to more than 400 people across two locations in the district.The initiative was held at the Pagliganj Mathurapur LAMPS area in the Balurghat subdivision and in Daulatpur, under the Banshihari area of the Gangarampur subdivision.

Journalists distributed festive items to residents as part of an annual effort to make the celebrations more inclusive and ensure that economically disadvantaged communities are not left out of the festivities.The club has maintained the tradition for approximately 20 to 22 years, making the programme a longstanding community outreach initiative ahead of Bengal’s biggest annual festival.

At the event in the Balurghat subdivision, attendees included Tapas Chakraborty, popularly known as “Chocolate Dadu,” a social worker who has received the Bangaratna award, and fellow social worker Mintu Saha, along with others.The programme in Daulatpur was attended by Subhajit Kundu, sub-divisional magistrate of Gangarampur; Shubha Dash Sarkar, sub-divisional police officer of Gangarampur; and Swapan Biswas, officer-in-charge of Banshihari police station. Other local dignitaries were also present.

For many in Bengal, Durga Puja is a time of family gatherings, new clothes, community celebrations and shared meals. But the financial pressures associated with the festival can make participation difficult for disadvantaged families. The journalists’ initiative seeks to bridge that gap by extending the spirit of the occasion beyond traditional celebrations.

Anup Sanyal, secretary of the South Dinajpur Journalists’ Club, said the programme was organized each year to share the joy of Durga Puja with people from disadvantaged backgrounds.The objective, he said, was to ensure that everyone had an opportunity to participate in the festivities, regardless of their circumstances. He added that the club would strive to continue the initiative in the coming years.

The programme highlighted a community-driven approach to festival celebrations, demonstrating how a sustained local initiative can help make a major cultural occasion more inclusive.As Durga Puja approaches, the distribution drive offered a reminder that the festival’s spirit lies not only in its rituals and celebrations, but also in sharing happiness with others.