{"id":41760,"date":"2025-09-29T16:43:05","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T11:13:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/2025\/09\/29\/foreign-diplomats-connect-with-the-soul-of-north-kolkata-at-chaltabagan-durga-puja\/"},"modified":"2025-09-29T16:43:05","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T11:13:05","slug":"foreign-diplomats-connect-with-the-soul-of-north-kolkata-at-chaltabagan-durga-puja","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/2025\/09\/29\/foreign-diplomats-connect-with-the-soul-of-north-kolkata-at-chaltabagan-durga-puja\/","title":{"rendered":"Foreign diplomats connect with the soul of North Kolkata at Chaltabagan Durga Puja"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Sundeep Bhutoria, Chairman, Chaltabagan Durga Puja, with diplomats and consular corps from Britain, France, Estonia, Guatemala, Germany, Italy, Sri Lanka and Ukraine<\/em><\/p>\n

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], September 27:<\/strong> On the World Tourism Day, in a heartfelt celebration of heritage and community, the timeless lanes of North Kolkata witnessed a unique confluence of cultures today. The Chaltabagan Durga Puja pandal became a bridge between worlds as Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consular corps from across the globe immersed themselves in the profound spirit of the festival, experiencing the fading, poetic charm of a bygone Kolkata.<\/p>\n

The delegation, representing a tapestry of nations including the United Kingdom, Estonia, France, Guatemala, Germany, Italy, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine, was welcomed by Mr Sundeep Bhutoria, Chairman of the Chaltabagan Durga Puja Committee. They were invited not merely as dignitaries, but as guests of honour to witness an intangible cultural heritage that Bengal has cherished for centuries.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rhythm is engaging\u2026.it is a wonderful experience because it is inclusive. This is my first visit of Durga Puja but certainly not my last,\u201d said Mr Antonio Enrico Bartoli, Ambassador of Italy in India.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is such a great, beautiful and amazing experience that has exceeded all my expectations. I feel privileged to be here. The display in every pandal demonstrates dedication, love and pride of the people of Kolkata. I will cherish this unique experience all my life,\u201d said Mr Omar Castaneda Solares, Ambassador of Guatemala in India.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s pandal, a work of art built around the dual themes of the \u201cEvolution of Bengali Language\u201d and \u2018Mool\u2019 (Roots), served as a poignant backdrop. It meticulously recreated the architectural soul of old North Kolkata\u2014its heritage buildings, grand havelis, and intimate streetscapes\u2014a sight that moved many diplomats to capture the moment with photographs and selfies. This year Chaltabagan Durga Puja won the Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman 2025 Award in the Sera Bhabna category.<\/p>\n

United Nations Information Centre, Director, Darrin Farrant, said, \u201cThis is once-in-a-lifetime experience. It\u2019s so thrilling to be there in Kolkata.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo walk from Shyambazar to Shobhabazar through these narrow, winding lanes is to traverse more than mere geography; it is a journey through the city\u2019s soul,\u201d reflected Mr Bhutoria. He spoke with a note of tender urgency about the neighbourhood\u2019s changing identity. \u201cThe balconies and verandahs were not just architecture; they were the heart of the \u2018rowak adda\u2019 culture\u2014the vibrant, informal conversations that forged our community bonds. As gentrification alters these streetscapes, we risk losing the very spaces that once defined our spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe initiative to invite the diplomatic corps was born from a desire to share this living archive with the world. \u201cChaltabagan Puja has always drawn foreign guests,\u201d said Mr. Bhutoria. \u201cThis time, we thought, why not formally invite them to experience the heritage that UNESCO has recognised, and that we hold so dear in our hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Founded in 1943 in the area historically known as \u2018Lohapatty\u2019 (the iron scrap neighbourhood), the Chaltabagan Durga Puja continues to be a guardian of tradition. For an evening, it successfully tugs at the heartstrings, reminding all who visit that while cities evolve, the roots of culture and community run deep, waiting to be discovered and embraced.<\/p>\n

If you object to the content of this press release, please notify us at pr.error.rectification@gmail.com. We will respond and rectify the situation within 24 hours.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sundeep Bhutoria, Chairman, Chaltabagan Durga Puja, with diplomats and consular corps from Britain, France, Estonia, Guatemala, Germany, Italy, Sri Lanka and Ukraine Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], September 27: On the World Tourism Day, in a heartfelt celebration of heritage and community, the timeless lanes of North Kolkata witnessed a unique confluence of cultures today. The…<\/p>\n

Read More “Foreign diplomats connect with the soul of North Kolkata at Chaltabagan Durga Puja”<\/span> »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41761,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[635],"class_list":["post-41760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","tag-national"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41760\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}