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News Desk: Restricted in their movements outside their old-age home, especially due to the pandemic, the 85-odd elderly residents of Navanir- India’s oldest home for the aged, located in the heart of Chetla — are organising their own Durga Puja on the premises this year. The Puja is facilitated by chief minister Mamata Banerjee herself, who visited the home on Sunday and oversaw the preparations. She left only after cautioning the residents to stay safe and enjoy the festival.
“I think this will be the best puja for me. Even when I was at home with my children and husband, I never had so much fun. This is like having a puja at my own home. I have no time to even sit and relax. There is so much work — cutting up fruits, decorating the pandal with flowers, choosing songs and other chores” said Gita Chatterjee, who has been living here for the past eight years.
A regular visitor to this old-age home for years, the chief minister came to Navanir with minister Firhad Hakim and MLA Indranil Sen on Sunday, and brought a large quantity of Puja gifts, including sweets and clothes, for the elderly residents.
“This place is extremely close to my heart. I have been coming here since I was an MP from Jadavpur. There is a separate attraction in this place. I am also thankful to you that you all went and voted in the last by-election amidst this pandemic.
I pray that you all have a healthy life” Banerjee said. The CM’s voice was choked, which she blamed on a slight cough-and-cold she has contracted while inaugurating pujas in the rain.
Banerjee also invited all the residents to visit her home in Kalighat during Kali Puja— another ritual that she has been following since she became the chief minister in 2011.
However due to rise in Covid, she had avoided the practice last year. “If everything is fine, I will again take you all to my home during this Kali Puja” the CM said.
Sarmistha Biswas,in charge of the old-age home, said that in the earlier years, multiple organisations used to take the residents on Puja parikrama and sent goodies and gifts during the festive period. However, the pandemic has put a stop to everything.
“Last year, when the chief minister visited us, she found the residents morose because of the pandemic restrictions. She immediately instructed her party colleagues to organise a puja on the premises and, within a day, a pandal and an idol were delivered. We had a great time. This time, the celebration is sweeter than ever” said Biswas.
