Live plays, retro posters: Kolkata’s Hatibagan Nabinpally Durga Puja revives old Bengali theatre

The Hatibagan Nabinpally Durga Puja Committee in Kolkata is paying tribute to the Bengali theatre of the late 19th century with their theme for this year’s puja. They are staging plays every evening at their pandal, recreating the glory of old Calcutta’s theatre venues and iconic female thespians. The plays aim to highlight the decline of the city’s theatre culture and raise awareness about preserving the remaining auditoriums. The organisers have put in a lot of research and effort to bring this theme to life, including consulting experts and recreating elements of the old theatre in their pandal. Visitors can experience the theme even before entering the pandal through retro play posters and signage.