Female dhakis navigate social taboos during puja and establish their own rhythm.

• Women dhakis, traditionally a male art form, are now taking up the drum playing at Durga Pujas.
• Mohila Dhaki Babadhamraj Sampradaya, a troupe of 10 women dhakis from Katwa, Purba Bardhaman district, north Bengal, are overcoming social taboos to pursue their dreams.
• Aparna Das, a 38-year-old dhaki, shares her journey of learning the instrument eight years ago, overcoming societal skepticism.
• The Das family, including sisters-in-law, daughters, granddaughters, and mothers, have become trailblazers in the field.
• The group has showcased their performances in several districts of the State and even traveled to Tripura to perform for a live audience.
• In 2021, four women purohits officiated at the Durga Puja festivities in 66 Pally in Kalighat, south Kolkata.
• The women dhakis set a new precedent by pursuing their passions in a male-dominated field.