Bari Bindu: Dhak sound from Rain Drops?
Experience the awe-inspiring creativity of Bari Bindu, AK Block’s Durga Puja pandal in Salt Lake, Kolkata, conceptualized by renowned artist Bhabotosh Sutar. Fusing the sound of rainfall with the beats of dhaks, this mesmerizing theme highlights the importance of rainwater conservation.
I casually walked into Bari Bindu witnessing a large gathering and heard ….
“Wow…what a theme..lemme take a bow at the creator.”
“OMG! Just look at this..what a concept!!!”
“This is what you call the creativity of Calcuttans! Hats off to the guy who has given such a wonderful expression of a burning concept!!!”
Durga Puja revellers are simply pausing with a combined ‘Wow’ once they are guided into the pandal of AK Block, Salt Lake, Kolkata.
Cacophony of the visitors evaporates as if they are struck by a magic wand. Almost everyone is ready to put aside the drops of perspiration and prolonged wait in the queue. The theme of the pandal has such a mesmerising effect on them.
A lilting sound of water, nay the very music of it, is leaving all and sundry crestfallen once the devotees start slowly creeping inside.
An array of artificial raindrops punctuated by gentle sounds of natural rhythm of rainfall, is getting seamlessly blended by the beats of Dhaks!
A bevy of simple utensils of everyday use have been strategically placed inside a pit where little drops of water are gently falling in a beautiful pattern graphically designed by computer.
And thus, the entire atmosphere is getting tickled with a soothing soundscape that seems to harmoniously mimic the rhythmic pattern of rapid drizzle….! (Bari Bindu in Bengali)
That ‘Wow’ is not for nothing indeed. Organisers of the Bari Bindu, AK Block Pujo committee, currently in the midst of a mountain of congratulatory messages pouring in from all quarters, are ready to credit Mr Bhabotosh Sutar, their Man Friday.
Prodded by the organisers to conceptualise a theme of rain water conservation and give a sterling shape to it, Sutar, a famed theme artist, set to work.
In the backdrop of a menacing water crisis that has crippled various parts of India and the world, Sutar decided to put in place an auditory yet visually appealing representation of the dire need to preserve rain water.
“I’ve endeavoured hard to shape the theme in such a manner as to leave an immersive effect and experience for the devotees,” said Sutar.
The theme also suits Salt Lake in particular as this township has come up on the basin of the river Bidyadhari after reclamation of the wetlands.
On the day of the inauguration, it first created ripples across Salt Lake. Once the organisers posted the pictures and video of the ‘show’ in the X (formerly Instagram), it has turned into waves of accolades pouring in from several quarters.
And the same has been viewed at least 3 million times so far. With each passing day, the search volume has just been leapfrogging…
The netizens have simply gone crazy; a plethora of messages conveying love, wonder, appreciation and best wishes has left both Sutar and the organisers in cloud nine.
Powered with a budget of Rs 75k, ‘the insane creativity of Durga Aradhona in this block will transport you to a different world where rendition of a rare blend of dhak and rain water is going to soothe your toxic nerves’, one of the netizens’ observations says it all.
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