Kolkata: West Bengal Governor R. N. Ravi inaugurated the 84th edition of Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja on Thursday, opening its 2026 pandal, ‘Nishan — The Mark’, to devotees and visitors in North Kolkata. This year’s theme highlights the story of the Ramnami Samaj of Chhattisgarh, exploring faith, identity, protection and peaceful resistance through the tradition of body tattoos.
The inauguration was attended by several prominent personalities, including BJP West Bengal State President Samik Bhattacharya, West Bengal Commerce and Industry Minister Tapas Roy, Jorasanko MLA Vijay Ojha, former MP Locket Chatterjee, industrialist Hari Mohan Bangur and Shishir Bajoria, President of the 2026 Inauguration Committee.
‘Nishan — The Mark’: From Faith to Identity
Conceived by artist Aditi Chakraborty, Nishan — The Mark draws inspiration from the practice of godna, or tattooing, as an expression of devotion, protection and quiet protest. At the centre of the theme is the Ramnami Samaj, a devotional community in Chhattisgarh whose members have inscribed the name of Lord Ram on their bodies since the 1890s as a peaceful response to caste-based exclusion.
The installation traces the journey of faith from written letters to visual expression, captured in the Bengali phrase ‘Akshar Theke Aakar’ — from the letter to the form.
The theme is accompanied by a special musical composition by Grammy Award winner and Padma Bhushan awardee Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, adding another artistic dimension to the presentation.
National Award-Winning Documentary Adds Significance
The theme gains further relevance from Ramnami, a documentary by Bharatbala Ganapathy that was named Best Hindi Documentary at the 72nd National Film Awards. The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu on September 22, 2026.
The recognition has brought renewed attention to the Ramnami community and its distinctive tradition of expressing devotion through the inscription of Lord Ram’s name.
‘Kolkata Honoured the Ramnami Samaj in Its Own Way’
Speaking at the inauguration, Chaltabagan Durga Puja Chairman Sundeep Bhutoria highlighted the committee’s 84-year journey and the significance of this year’s theme.
“This puja began 84 years ago in the old iron quarter of Manicktala. This year the nation has honoured the Ramnami Samaj with a National Award, and tonight Kolkata honoured them in its own way. With the Hon’ble Governor and our guests beside us, the city walked through the pandal and carried their mark forward,” Bhutoria said.
Committee officials Ashok Jaiswal, President; Rajesh Bihani, Vice Chairman; and Rajesh Jaiswal, Secretary, welcomed the dignitaries at the inauguration.
84 Years of Durga Puja Tradition
Founded in 1943, Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja has established itself as a prominent name in Kolkata’s Durga Puja celebrations. The committee has received honours including the Asian Paints Sharad Shamman and the Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman.
With Nishan — The Mark, the committee brings together religious devotion, social history and contemporary artistic expression, inviting visitors to reflect on the relationship between faith, identity and dignity.
The pandal remains open to devotees and visitors throughout the Durga Puja festivities.
