Exploring Diverse Themes With Puja Pandals

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The city is dazzling with expensively decorated puja pandals and is a feast for the eyes. People niftily dressed are busy pandal hopping, gazing in awe at the vast range of themes explored and diversity of Durga maa in all its grandure at different pandals.

The Athgaon Sarvojanik Durga Puja Committee has the 112 feet Shiv statue in Tamil Nadu as its chosen theme. Through the budget (Rs 26 lakh) puja expenditure, they want to portray the grandeur of the majestic statue.

The Bishnupur Sarvojanik Puja Committee, which is celebrating 69 years of puja, has the proposed Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir as its chosen theme. Through the budget (Rs 18 lakh) puja expenditure, they want to portray the grandeur of the soon to be created majestic temple.

The Baroyari Durga Puja Committee, which is celebrating 76 years of puja, has carved their idol and the structure from recycled waste. The main motive of the Committee is to make a striking pandal, different from the usual materials used in construction. Waste such as peanut shells, husks of wood-apple, etc are being used. The budget of the Puja Committee is Rs 25 lakh.

The Latashil Sarbajanin Durga Puja completed its 40th anniversary. This year, the theme of a palace from Rajasthan has been chosen, which cost a budget worth of Rs 16 lakh. No artists from outside of state has been invited for the design, hence, under the guidance of Mridul Bishaya from Assam, the mandap has been designed.

The Geeta Nagar Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee, which is celebrating its 44th year, has the theme of Dakhineswar Kali Mandir of Kolkatta. It took one and a half month for the completion of the mandap that cost a budget of 26 lakh. Assistant general secretary of the committee Mrinmay Deka said that they have not hired artists from outside and that only clothes plywood and fiber have been used to design the mandap. Some cultural programmes are also organized. This includes musical programme, drama performance, Ojha Pali performance and also Dhulia and Dhaki. A live show that presents live statue of famous personality has also been organized for attracting the public. The committee informed that around 1.50 to 2 lakh people visit the mandap on a daily basis. We have taken the motive of eco friendly nature and the vendors are not allowed to use plastic.

Also Watch: Durga Puja 2019: Maha Saptami Puja from Kokrajhar