On one side, India is sending probes to the moon and the sun, even putting astronauts in orbit. On the other hand, superstition still grips neighbourhoods, villages, and even homes. That uncomfortable tension of science vs superstitions is what the Purvachal Udayan Sangha has decided to throw into sharp relief at its 29th Durga Puja.
Durga Puja 2025 Plans To Attack Superstitions
The organisers aren’t simply celebrating science for science’s sake. They want the Durga Puja pandal to work like a mirror, showing visitors both the glow of India’s space triumphs and the shadows of irrational belief and superstitions. “We live in an age where rockets can reach the moon, but many still place blind trust in superstition,” one organiser said, summing up the provocation at the heart of this year’s theme.
According to The Times of India, the backdrop is timely. India has checked off some of its biggest space wins in recent memory: a lunar landing that made international headlines, the launch of its first dedicated solar mission, and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s 14-day voyage beyond Earth. Each of these marked a giant leap in capability, but also in confidence. The nation, organisers argue, is quite literally aiming for the stars, so why should minds still be tethered to fear?
To stage this conversation, artists Sanatan Dinda and Somnath Mukherjee have turned the pandal into a kind of theatre. Their installations trace a journey: step in, and you’ll see superstition’s chokehold; move further, and the exhibits start to crack it open with light, science, and rationality.
All You Need To Know
The moment of truth comes with the goddess’s awakening. At that instant, the set will shift, revealing how superstition, when unpeeled, often hides nothing more than illusion. The unveiling, the organisers promise, will be equal parts spectacle and shock, designed to leave visitors unsettled but also inspired to question what they’ve always been told.
Durga Puja pandals have never been just about ritual; they’re stages for battling superstitions, social debate, art experiments, and even satire. In past years, themes have spanned climate change, women’s safety, and vanishing heritage. This year, the Sangha is betting on science versus superstition as the story that will inspire.
For Kolkata’s festival-goers, the draw will be more than artistic craft. This Durga Puja, the message seems hard to miss: India’s most daring victories won’t only be in space but in the slow, stubborn fight to unshackle belief from superstitions.
Cover Image Courtesy: shouvikmondal/CanvaPro
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