New Delhi: Durga pandals in Delhi-NCR have opted to go back to their roots, West Bengal, from the red soil of Birbhum to Kolkata’s iconic Prinsep Ghat on the banks of the Hooghly this season by celebrating the homecoming of the goddess Durga in pandals, big and small with fanciful themes.
While many have chosen to go the traditional route, several pandals in the region are exploring contemporary concerns such as communal harmony and women’s empowerment.
The Arambagh Puja, for instance, focuses on communal harmony and battle against racism, while Matri Mandir Puja Samiti is looking at women’s empowerment. There is a 40-foot artwork showing a handsome Mahishasur, the demon king, above a collage of a temple, a mosque, a church, a gurudwara and a lotus temple.
“Evil can be anywhere and in any form. So through a handsome Mahisasur we are trying to convey a message against racism,” said Abhijit Bose, the executive chairman of Arambagh Puja. The Maruti Vihar Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee in Sector 29, Gurgaon has recreated the earthy colours of Bengal, with the theme of ‘Chalo Jai Ranga Matir Deshe’. The organisers hope to dispel the Kolkata-centric view of Bengal through the pandal. “We have selected some of the prominent rural segments of Bengal, particularly the ‘ranga mati’, or red soiled areas, such as Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore, to showcase their rich art and culture,” said Rabin Chakraborty, the committee’s general secretary.
“The pandal will have artists giving live demonstrations of decoration forms such as ‘potoshilpo’ from Purulia and terracotta art from Bankura. And the famous Baul singers will complete the experience,” said Swapan Sarkar, the committee’s president. The Durga Puja committees in Chittaranjan Park, known as a mini-Kolkata, which usually goes the extra mile in creating unique pandals, has decided to keep it simple. One of the biggest Pujas in Delhi in terms of space, the B-block is going back to roots, with a traditional idol in ‘Daker saaj’.
“We feel it’s important to go back to being simple; it helps us connected to our roots,” said Sayan Acharya, the executive member of the Puja committee.
