Agomoni

FLO Kolkata organised a fellowship event titled “ Agomoni” on October 1st, 2024. The event was joined by 14 women Dhakis joined from a village two hours from Kolkata and Gigantic traditional alponas were drawn.

Laal Paar Saris was made by female weavers of Shabuj gram who used textiles as a form of emancipation, a Durga made by renowned, Patuas of Kumartuli – China Pal. Alta stations, and female Dhunuchi dancers also joined the event.
15 varieties of mishtis were bought from 15 of Bengal’s most famous and oldest establishments and with Kash flower thrones. This was FLO Kolkata welcomed Goddess Durga to Earth a day before Mahalaya.

Led by Chairperson Shradha Murarka, the event was a visual feast with Shola decor and indigenous flowers immersing the venue. Over 400 members joined the event and almost all of them wore traditional Lal Paar Saris as they danced to the sound of Dhaak and Dhunuchi. A group of people made traditional alponas welcomed gates from the driveway.

The afternoon began with a famous Potua artist and Shradha Murarka jointly giving the eye to the Goddess. This was followed by a traditional puja of the Goddess after which Shradha Murarka put the weapons on the Goddess’ hands thereby empowering her with strength.

A Bengali-style Woodstock followed with women dancing to the sound of Dhak played by women. Gokul Chandra Das from the village of Maslandapur in Habra, West Bengal – a gifted dhaki himself started training the women in his family around eight years ago. Das started the troupe of women dhakis with his daughter-in-law, Uma Das, and daughter Tuku, and is now over 40 members strong.

The fellowship event was a resounding success as the Chairperson, Shradha Murarka shared her thoughts on the event Agomoni symbolises FLO Kolkata’s empowerment.