Behind glitz, pandals embrace eco-friendly themes

NEW DELHI: Durge Devi Namastute, a Times of India initiative to give an award to the best Durga Puja pandal and idol, saw the enthusiastic participation of puja committees across the National Capital region. Judges Bipasha Sengupta, a painter, and cartoonist Uday Shankar, who have toured the puja milieu over two days, were pleasantly surprised with the thought and research that had gone into the conceptualisation of pandal imageries.
In Gurgaon, at South City II the judges saw a replica of the Dakshineshwar temple of Kolkata. "We have tried to use biodegradable materials as far as possible in its construction," said Paritosh Roy, the pandal-in-charge. The committee at Sector 56 has plumped for the Jor Bangla temple of Bishnupur after having sent a team of five art college students to West Bengal to study it. "Our pandal is a blend of Islamic multi-lobed arches with Bengal's traditional huts and the terracotta style," said Sabyasachi Ghosh, the secretary. The pandal at DLF 5 is simple with the idol made of clay, paper, water and terracotta. Also, this is probably the only idol housed indoors in a hotel.
The Karol Bagh Durga Puja Samiti's pandal is ornate with grand chandeliers from Chandan Nagar in West Bengal lighting it up, while a rural Bengal had been created outside, complete with cows and rustic women. "The main pratima was made by Shambu Pal, the famous artisan of Kumartuli. Unlike the usual idols that have Durga draped in a sari in the traditional Dhaker Saaj, for our idol Pal fashioned it out of clay itself," disclosed Robin Banerjee, the committee head.
There can be no mistaking that the Arambagh Puja Samiti has taken up violence against women as its theme. A 40-ft idol of a tribal woman welcomes devotees to pandal whose adornments are uniquely the pictures of inspirational women, including Mother Theresa, Kalpana Chawla (first Indian woman in space), Phoolan Devi (who became a bandit to avenge her rape), Mary Kom, Sudha Chandran (a Bharatanatyam dancer who danced with a prosthetic leg) and Irom Sharmila (anti-AFSPA protestor). Abhijit Bose, executive chairman of the Puja Samiti, said, "We have received a tremendous response from both men and women to our theme."
At the Cooperative Ground in CR Park's K Block, you will find a rustic Bengal made of jute, fodder, husk and bamboo straws. The pandal depicts the deities as commoners in a rural landscape. In Matri Mandir in Safdarjung Enclave, the pandal features a clever use of bamboo and coloured lighting to accentuate the showcasing of east Indian tribal cultures. The judges also visited the Mela Ground in B Block as well as the Navapali Durga Puja Samiti.
Bengal's rural culture is reiterated at Jalvayu Vihar Sanskritik Kalyan Samiti in Noida Sector 25. "We have tried out the concept of 'Gram Bangla' not just in the look of the pandal, but also in our cultural activities," says Amit Dasgupta, secretary of the committee. Elements of rural Bengal can also be seen in the pandal organized by the East End Apartment Durga Puja Samiti in Mayur Vihar , where a 'Dhaner Gola', a container used to store grains and considered a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi, is the centrepiece. Similarly, there is extensive use of thatch work in the Delhi Rohini Puja Samiti's pandal.
Revival of Odiya folk art is the central theme of Milani Cultural and Welfare Association in Mayur Vihar. Art, the Rath Yatra and the tradition of sand sculpture find a conspicuous place there. For its part, the Paschim Vihar Bengali Association has the pandal in the form of Sanchi Stupa, created by Padma Shri winner, Professor Biman D Das. It also has motifs showing yoga postures.
The Paschim Vihar Bangiya Parishad has not gone the way of most committees. "We have not chosen a theme because we want to stick to the spiritual essence of the puja," said Tamal Dutta, general secretary. It is simplicity too at the red-and-white pandal of the Indraprastha Matri Mandir Nirman Society, where the walls are adorned by minimalist paintings of Goddess Durga done by youngsters in a bid to "enhance the skills of local artists". Ashok Ghosh, member of the society, added that they chose to cut down on excessive expenses to be able to maintain the park where the pandal is located.
Uniquely, the Agrani Durga Puja Samiti in Rohini has a second Durga idol that will be immersed in a small pond within the pandal. "The Yamuna is in a very poor condition, so we have constructed a pond for the immersion," revealed Prantik Dutta, cultural secretary of the committee.
Music director Shantanu Moitra will be the special guest at the competition finale on October 22 and will give away the awards to the winners.