Unlike any other: These Durga Puja pandals in West Bengal stand out for their unusual themes
Every year, different pandals in Kolkata come up with unique ideas that attract people from all over. From a library to the farmers’ agitation, here are a few interesting ones that are worth the visit
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This Durga Puja, some of the key pandals in the city have been decorated as per themes focusing on different subjects. While one in south Kolkata is shaped as a library to encourage reading, another has been erected in solidarity with the farmers ongoing agitation against the three farm laws. The Babubagan Sarbojanin Durgotsava Committee in south Kolkata designed its Durga Puja pandal as a library. AFP
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The pandal displays prominent figures and books related to Bengal Renaissance. An organiser of the pandal said the aim was to encourage reading among the young people of the city. AFP
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The Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra Club has adopted a political stand in its theme for the pandal. The pandal’s design is centred around the farmers’ protest, more specifically the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. Artist Anirban Das, who conceptualised the pandal’s theme, has used a heap of slippers to symbolise the farmers’ protests. AFP
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The pandal also depicts the sketch of a car running over a farmer. The Puja committee’s secretary Pratik Chowdhury, defending the pandal’s design, was quoted as saying that as the farmers’ protest is the most talked-about topic, they decided to go ahead with the design as a means to show their solidarity with the farmers. He also added that they had spent around Rs 25 lakh to create the theme. AFP
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Meanwhile, another pandal in Kolkata is designed around the various natural disasters that have hit the state of West Bengal. AFP
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Bangladesh’s 50th independence anniversary is also the theme for one of the many pandals in the city. AFP
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Bosepukur Shitala Mandir - The theme for 2021 is “taan”, a colloquial term for smoking. The pandal aims to showcase the ill effects of smoking on our lungs. Nandini Paul/Firstpost
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Taalbagan Sharbojanin - The theme for the year 2021 revolved around the plight of farmers in India. Nandini Paul/Firstpost
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Haridevpur Vivekananda Park Athletic Club - In 2021, the club chose to explore how the makers of Durga idols live and chose the route of minimalism to highlight their lifestyle as a homage to their craft. Nandini Paul/Firstpost
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41 Pally - This year, the theme revolves around “Maa er chhnoya” or a Mother’s touch that we so often crave in times of turmoil as a way of escaping the worry and anguish that comes along with it. Nandini Paul/Firstpost
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Barisha Club - The theme of 2021 is “Bhaager Maa” or “Mother divided”, which is highly relevant in relation to the past two years. It delves into the lives that get uprooted due to displacement, migration and so and so forth but it’s the mother who suffers the most as she has to bear the brunt of catering to the family and children no matter what. The National Register for Citizens (NRC) and last year’s migration crisis are the central ideas around which the theme was created. Nandini Paul/Firstpost
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Shuruchi Shangha - In 2021, Shuruchi Shangha Club wanted to shed light on a very innocent word, “abdaar”, which roughly translates to a mellow request. The term is often used by children to put forth their request/demand for something in a mellow manner. Nandini Paul/Firstpost
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Chetla Agrani - In 2021, the Cheltla Agrani Club chose the theme “anusharan” or “follow/abide by something” and is dedicated to COVID-19 warriors and those who lost their lives at the hands of the pandemic. Nandini Paul/Firstpost
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