Photos: Pandals with myriad themes brighten Kolkata during Durga Puja
Updated On Oct 06, 2019 04:10 PM IST
Kolkata's pandals are known for their detailed, artistic styles during Durga Puja. This year being no exception, the themes range from water scarcity to oneness of God, academic pressure on children and the dying traditions of the city of joy. The five day festival began on October 4 and will culminate on the day of Dashami or Dussehra on October 8.
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Durga Puja, the biggest festival on the Bengali calendar began on October 4 this year. Celebrated in honour of goddess Durga, the festival culminates five days later with the idol immersion ceremony on Dasami (Dussehra). Theme-based pandals have mushroomed in the city for the puja. With ‘illusion’ as its theme, the 73rd Durga Puja pandal (pictured) at Tridhara Sammilani has been created by artist Gauranga Kuilya who also made the idol. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)
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The 69th Durga Puja pandal at Abosor, Bhawanipore is based on the theme ‘bunon’ (knitting). Artist Subrata Banerjee created this with colourful nylon threads, giving it a kaleidoscopic character. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)
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Actors perform old rituals of the city for the visitors.The theme for the 27th year of the Durga Puja pandal at Chetla Agrani Sangha is a combination of old (lost) and urban Kolkata by artist Anirban Das. The upper dome of the pandal is urban high rise buildings made of sola whereas the lower part depicts old culture, rituals and lost objects. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)
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Depicting the damage caused to birds through satellite signals, artist Rintu Das created the 31st Durga Puja pandal at Barisha Club, Behala, on the theme ‘Tomader barche goti, amader barche durgati’ (Your life is progressing while our lives are deteriorating). The outer portion of the pandal is decorated with mobile towers and dish antennae. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)
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The Durga idol inside the pandal at Barisha Club, Behala. The idol has been made using a single wood by artist Udayshankar Das. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)
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Depicting the oneness of all faiths, the 19th Durga Puja pandal at Beleghata 33 Pally has the theme ‘Amra Ek, Eka Noi’ (We are one, not alone). The creator Rintu Das has made the use of symbols from different religions in the pandal. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)
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The theme for the 33rd Durga Puja pandal at Naktala Udayan Sangha is ‘birth.’ It refers not to the biological birth, but the spiritual birth. It has been created by artist Bhabotosh Sutar who also made the idol. The pandal has been decorated with earthen pots, symbolising the womb of nature. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)
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The 70th Durga Puja pandal at Bosepukur Shitala Mandir, created by artist Debasis Guchait, is themed as ‘Khuje dekho aapon aalo’ (Look for your own light). With lights of different colours, the pandal depicts children burdened with their academic syllabus, school bags and other items; things that kill their imagination as they are pushed into the mad rat race to build a career. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)
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With the theme as ‘colour,’ the idols at Samaj Mudiali club have been created by artist Gauranga Kuilya. The pandal has been made of acrylic sheet with glass painting. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)
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