Onyo Pujo, a Durga Pujo unlike any other, will be held for the first time in association with Make Calcutta Relevant Again with Y-East and Hulladek Recycling. A student-led program called Onyo Pujo honors innovation, sustainability, and tradition via regeneration. By combining contemporary sustainability techniques with the cultural significance of Durga Puja, the initiative hopes to create a unique Pujo experience that unites environmental responsibility with heritage.

The Onyo Pujo theme song, Monta Re, composed by DJ Teej, Co-Founder, of HomeBound Wav, was released by Ms. Trina Saha, actress, Mr. Satrajit Sen, Film Director, Prof Manoshi Roychowdhury, Co-Chairperson of Techno India Group, Ms Priyasha Singhania, Chief Marketing Officer, Hulladek Recycling, Mr Meghdut Roychowdhury, Founder, Make Calcutta Relevant Again And Chief Innovation Officer & Executive Director of Techno India Group and Ms Pauline Laravoire, Co-Founder & CEO, Y-East And Sustainability Director, Techno India Group.

Students from Ecole Intuit Lab designed the creative pandal for Onyo Pujo. This year’s Onyo Pujo will feature the idol that Techno India Group students created last year out of leftover cloth, stretching the boundaries of sustainability and rebirth even further. These students have developed an amazing picture that represents the idea of regeneration by fusing their creativity with sustainable materials. This student-led project demonstrates how emerging artists might influence traditional festivals in the future by emphasizing environmental awareness.

Onyo Pujo is resource-conscious and seeks to change the way we think about waste by demonstrating that materials have a long life and should be reused. Everything has value in a society where resources are scarce and running out, and even things like waste can be viewed as valuable resources. They refer to this idea as circular thinking or circularity. This idea of the circular nature of life is reinforced by the pandal’s main theme, “Emergence of the Divine: A Journey of Rebirth”.

The plastic bottles that were used to build the pandal will thereafter be utilized for consumption. After Pujo, the reused fabric—which was once damaged cloth—will be repaired and given to the less fortunate. Organic dyes will be made from leftover flowers. These programs demonstrate how Onyo Pujo is different.

On October 8th, Onyo Pujo will be inaugurated and will adhere to all Pujo customs and traditions. It
will serve as a statement to the world that Kolkata is accepting progress without sacrificing its traditions, and will be more than just a festival. Students, business executives, and cultural leaders working together signify the commencement of a new period in the cultural history of the city, guaranteeing Durga Puja’s continued significance for future generations.

Students will also be able to present their creative projects and novel ideas centered on sustainability on Onyo Pujo. The partnership with Hulladek Recycling served as an example of a green celebration and highlighted the importance of trash management strategies during sizable public festivals.

Priyanka Dutta