Maddox Square. The open field, the morning walk, the famous Durga Puja, the adda - the neighborhood is intertwined with everything. The most eye-catching thing in this huge area is Maddox Square. Green fields, trees, all in all a great environment. Although the number of trees has decreased a bit from before. Of course, now many people are planting trees here on their own initiative.
The number of sparrows has also decreased a lot now that there is no hustle and bustle in the shiny flats. The biggest attraction in our neighborhood during the puja is Maddox Square. Earlier, it was just a neighborhood puja. Some to pay homage, some just to chat — now people come here from all over Kolkata.
This puja started in 1935 at the residence of Shri Saroj Bagchi on Richey Road. The puja was moved to Maddox Square Park the next year. In 1960, the silver jubilee year of this puja, a one-piece idol in the style of a postal stamp was made. 1985 was the golden jubilee year.
In that year, the idol was decorated with the style of a gold postal stamp instead of silver. Since then, the Maddox Square puja idol is still decorated in that style. Artists from Krishnanagar make this postal stamp.
In addition, local residents and members of the puja committee also arrange for gold jewelry to decorate the idol. At one time, the idol for this puja was made by the President's Award-winning artist Shrishchandra Pal.
Currently, Nikhil Pal, an artist from Patuapara, Kalighat, is in charge of making this idol. 'Maddox Square' is one of the most popular pujas for worship-loving Bengalis. This is one of the oldest pujas in Kolkata and is known to Bengalis all over the world.
No puja committee wants to give up even a single inch of land in the fight for the theme of Durga Puja. However, the puja at Maddox Square Park, one of the most famous Durga Pujas in South Kolkata, has never been in this rat race. Yet, every year, people flock to this puja. Maddox Square is the ultimate destination during the puja for everyone from eight to eighty.
Celebrities also come. As always, the women of the neighborhood still do all the puja work together. However, the atmosphere here has changed a bit compared to before. Although the next generation is present at all the events in this neighborhood, their number is a little less.
However, now the puja gets a lot of sponsors, so they also get some rights. For example, on Dashami, the sindoor game is played with celebrities in the mandap. The women of the neighborhood get the opportunity later. This is a place where they are a little angry.
Even though Maddox is crowded with new generations from noon to night during the puja, the atmosphere on the field changes a bit from evening onwards due to the behavior of some groups. But whatever it is, during the puja, the entire neighborhood is one family.
Maddox Square, of course, has a lively atmosphere all year round. The chat continues even after the morning walk. Sometimes it even continues with the tea shop next to the field.
The one who is surrounded by this madness is none other than our mother, whose beautiful beauty has mesmerized the world. Just as we cannot imagine Maddox Square without Maa Durga, similarly, another image will forever be associated with this field, that is football and cricket.
Seasons greeting to you