Grammy Winner Vishwa Mohan Bhatt Composes Special Tribute for Kolkata Durga Puja

Kolkata's Durga Puja celebrations are set to receive a unique musical offering this year. Grammy Award winner and Padma Bhushan recipient Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt has unveiled a special composition created for the 84th Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja.

The piece draws its core inspiration from the Mahishasura Mardini tradition, a central theme of the festival. Bhatt explained that the composition incorporates traditional melodies alongside the rhythmic depth of instruments like the pakhawaj and drums, aiming to capture the devotional essence of the occasion.

A notable feature of the work is its collaborative nature, spanning three generations of the Bhatt family. While Pandit Bhatt composed and directed the music and performed on the Mohan Veena, his son Saurabh handled the arrangements, recording, and mixing. Adding to the legacy, his grandson Atharva also played the Mohan Veena alongside him.

The unveiling event was held in the presence of members of the Ramnami Samaj from Chhattisgarh, a community whose history is tied to this year's puja theme. Founded in the 1890s as a peaceful protest against temple exclusion, the community's members famously tattooed the name of Ram across their bodies, turning themselves into living temples.

Sundeep Bhutoria, Chairman of the Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty, announced a global digital initiative called 'Durga Puja Connect' at the event. The platform aims to unite devotees, pujas, and stories from Bengal and the diaspora in a single digital space, allowing people worldwide to follow events, explore heritage, and watch celebrations live.

"Technology is not changing our tradition, it's helping our tradition travel further," Bhutoria said, adding that the vision is to take Durga Puja to the world while keeping its heart rooted in tradition. Bhatt expressed his happiness that the composition will be played in pandals, becoming a part of the city's grand festive soundscape.