Durga Puja keeps West Bengal CM Mamata busy

Kolkata, Oct 8: From flagging-off celebrations at marquees to penning theme songs, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has immersed herself in the Durga Puja celebrations much before the festival began on Friday.

The Trinamool Congress supremo started off inaugurations of celebrations organised by her key ministers Subrata Mukherjee, Partha Chatterjee, Arup Biswas among others, at least a week ago.

The support and adulation for Banerjee comes through in some of the themes chosen by her party leaders to deck up their marquees.

For example, south Kolkata's Suruchi Sangha, patronised by Aroop Biswas, Bengal's Youth Affairs and Sports Minister, has recreated Bhutan, in keeping with Banerjee's fondness for the Himalayan nation.

Known for her penchant for writing poems, Banerjee also penned the theme song for Suruchi Sangha that received an award from a media group.

She was also inundated with offers to inaugurate the marquees by smaller organisations. It is estimated the chief minister heralded the arrival of the puja in at least 200 marquees.

According to informed sources, Banerjee is not in the habit of turning down any of the invites.

Her arrival is not restricted to cutting ribbons. Banerjee also interacted with the residents and appreciated the artistic endeavours.

"I visited a number of puja mandaps. The creative work of the artists with all their hard labour is really very appreciable," she had tweeted.

Her presence was stamped on several marquees through posters which displayed her photo labelled as "Mother" besides those of Saint Teresa called "Sister".

In between, she also had some time to mingle with the residents of an old age home.

IANS