Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Behala Puja Uses Oil to Explore Global Conflict and Food
A Puja in Behala is built around the idea of oil.
Oil is used for cooking, lamps and transport, and its rising price has become a concern.
Artist Pradip Das made a large oil container covered with pictures of kitchens.
The displays also show cooking tools, fish and an empty pot that recalls famines in Bengal.
The artist connected oil prices to conflict in the Gulf.
Some people have made statements about avoiding meat near Puja pandals.
The organisers said people usually eat at fairs beside the pandals after viewing the Puja.
They said they follow Puja practices and the almanac.
The club decided to make a large display despite uncertainty.
Behala Club’s 82-year-old Durga Puja theme this year is oil, linking cooking and fuel costs to global conflict.
Artist Pradip Das created a 10.5-foot jerry can covered in kitchen photographs, alongside installations about oil and food.
The displays include an empty cooking pot evoking Bengal’s famines and a goddess and woman depicted with bnotis and fish.
Organisers defended the customary practice of eating non-vegetarian food at adjoining fairs after visiting a pandal.
Despite uncertainty after a change of regime and other organisers playing safe, Das urged the club to make the Puja ambitious.
- Who
- Behala Club, artist Pradip Das and organisers including secretary Nirmalyapratim Panda and treasurer Ranjan Dalai.
- What
- The club’s Durga Puja uses oil as its theme, with installations about kitchens, fuel, food and famine.
- When
- This year; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- Behala, Kolkata.
- Why
- The theme reflects the importance of oil in daily life and the effects of rising fuel and cooking-oil prices amid global conflict.
Organisers’ view
Restrictive statements
Non-vegetarian food near Puja pandals
Organisers’ view
The organisers said people generally stop to eat biryani or rolls at adjoining fairs after viewing a Puja, and that the club follows established practices and the almanac.
Restrictive statements
The article refers to recent restrictive pronouncements from the Right wing about avoiding non-vegetarian food near Durga Puja pandals; it does not identify specific speakers or provide their reasoning.
- Puja
- Behala Club’s 82-year-old Durga Puja
- Theme
- Oil (tel)
- Artist
- Pradip Das
- Central installation
- A 10.5-foot jerry can covered with photographs of kitchens
- Other display elements
- An empty cooking pot, rice grains, kitchen-spice odours, fish and bnotis
- Historical references
- The Bengal famine of 1943 and the famine of 1769–70
- Organisers’ position
- They said visitors commonly eat at fairs adjoining pandals after viewing the Puja.