Durga Puja is the time when the Bengalis are at their creative best. With mega festive season round the corner, can Bermo remain far behind? Craftsmen from the coal city along with their counterparts in Dhanbad and Asansol are giving shape to their creative ideas in the form of puja pandals.
From ancient temple to magic fort, the denizens would get opportunity to witness the best of pandals this season. When it comes to the celebration the creative talents of artists get a free flow, bringing out an array of interesting pandals by each of the more than 50 puja samitis in the coal city every year.
“It is common in our city to have a specially-created pandal for the worship of Durga. Every year devotees pour in to catch the glimpse of our pandal ,” said Hans Raj Prasad of Punch Mandir Durga Puja Committee.About 22 artists would construct a pandal similar on the lines of a temple at Mauritius. The committee would spend one lakh on the construction of pandal.
On the other hand known for its creative designs, the puja committee of Phusro has decided to construct a replica of the magical fort. Artists from Mednipur, West Bengal have been roped in prepare the pandal.
This year committees are choosing larger premises for the puja and that made this pandal possible.
Rupesh Nair, a craftsmen hired on contract from thermal, while putting finishing touches to a village house at Bokaro club,said, “I used to make such decorations back home for the bigger decorators. When I saw that there is a good demand for such work, I joined a group that creates these structures. We have taken up a few projects this year and hope to receive good returns.
Members of puja committees informed that the craftspersons actually have an album of pandals to show clients. Once the client has chosen the structure, the craftspersons shop for materials, and gets started. The puja committees vie with each other to make the best of pandals.
“Pandals are an important part of the Durgotsav and we try to come up with creative ideas to attract the devotees,” said a Utpal Samadar,committee member.
“Terracotta, cotton, water colour beside, wooden structure has been utilized to construct the village replica. It is in the night when the real beauty of the structure will be on display,” informed SB Singh, functionary of the puja committee. Nearly a dozen odd puja pandals in the city are worth a look this pujas as in the backdrop of the steep price rise and recessionary trend a large block of the 40 odd puja committees in the industrial town have limited themselves to ‘budget pandals’.
