Kolkata: It is a long held belief that Durga Puja is the heart and soul of Bengali culture. Former Indian national team footballer Mehtab Hossain and his wife Moumita set much in store by that sentiment. The inter-faith couple has set an example of communal harmony by hosting their first Durga Puja at their Kolkata home. Their celebration has become a symbol of unity and inclusivity, and has attracted visitors from all walks of life.
The couple lives in a flat in Kolkata’s suburb of Newtown. When The Wire visited the second-floor flat, Mehtab is in charge of welcoming and entertaining guests while Moumita was busy preparing the traditional khichudi bhog – an offering for the deity that is later shared by those praying. Moumita had a busy day ahead, because she was also going to prepare a biryani meal for friends and neighbours.
Despite the complexities of organising such an event, Mehtab and Moumita had created a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The flat is abuzz with activity. Three priests are also busy at work. Mehtab, familiar in a jersey, cuts a remarkable figure in a traditional Bengali dhuti and panjabi. Their puja has simple decorations made with gamchha cloths, and the idol is a humble one, but it has become a focal point for the community.
Mehtab and Moumita’s pandal. Photo: Joydeep Sarkar.
An East Bengal football club legend, who has also played for Mohun Bagan, Mehtab says, “My wife has long wished to organise a Durga Puja. Initially, I was unsure about the processes involved, but friends stepped in to help. My fellow footballers Arnab [Mondal] and Rahim Nabi are joining us with their families. Now our neighbours have also embraced the celebration. It feels different and also wonderful.”
Initially, the couple had planned a larger celebration but with protests raging against the R.G. Kar rape and murder and the junior doctors’ fast afoot, they decided to scale it down.
For Moumita, the goddess is a symbol of feminine power and women’s empowerment.
“We are demanding justice and also true definitions of freedom for women – we cannot just send girls to school and think that our job is done. This puja is a festival of unity, transcending religious boundaries. I also celebrate Eid with equal devotion. Harmony is the real joy, beyond any religious dogma,” adds Moumita.
Mehtab, who has represented India on the international football stage, also emphasises that this puja is more than a religious festival – it is a call for unity against social divisions.
“We want to build a society free from discrimination and where everyone can live together with justice. Our hope is that religious festivals will further strengthen the bonds between us,” Mehtab says.
Their neighbour Debashis Roy, who has been helping with the festivities, echoes this sentiment. “The incidents happening across India and in Bangladesh are also affecting us here. My friend Mehtab says often that we are privileged to have not grown up in such a toxic environment. I think this couple is a model of harmony and humanity,” Debashis adds.
Krishna Das, a dhak player from Murshidabad, is providing the musical backdrop.
“I play the dhak for both Muharram and Durga Puja. My profession is often about religious rituals, but true celebration lies in unity. Although the puja market is down this year, I’m happy to play for this family’s first puja. More people should learn from the example of this Muslim-Hindu family coming together,” says Das.
Gentle melodies of Bismillah Khan’s sitar and Salil Chowdhury’s songs fill the flat, in a departure from everything else in the world.
Translated from the Bengali original by Aparna Bhattacharya.