Durga Puja: Most Memorable Pandals of 2018

For 10 days every year, Durga Puja fills Eastern Indian states with vibrancy and festivity. Depicting and celebrating the victory of Goddess Durga, pandals are a sight to behold. In Kolkata, the pandals will be open to visitors from the sixth to tenth day of the festival this year. While they serve a purpose to transport or house pottered representations of the Goddess Durga, the pandals themselves have become one of the most anticipated part of Durga Puja. Over the years, their eccentricity has sky rocketed as competition has intensified. Recent pandals have been dedicated to everything from Harry Potter to the LGBT community. In preparation for the build of excitement for this year’s display, we look back at some of the most memorable pandals of last year.

Sreebhumi Sporting Club’s Padmaavat Pandal:

Renowned for the big budgets they designate to their pandals, for 2018, the Sreebhumi Sporting Club attracted much attention by theming their pandal around the fort featured in one of the most talked about movies of the year. Whilst it was a controversial choice seeing as protestors said that the film distorted history, pandal designer Romeo Hazra clearly didn’t want to shy away from representations of the past with the Durga being modelled around the film’s main character. For the club’s 46^th Durga Puja they rebuilt the fort on a huge scale will excesses of lighting to enhance its size and a Durga idol adorning gold jewellery worth Rs.10 crores.

Samaj Sebi Sangha’s Nails and Threads Durga

Samaj Sebi Sangha got creative with materials in order to create a pandal accessible to the visually impaired. They therefore joined the evolution towards a more inclusive Durga Puja. Their pandal featured textured saws wedged in wooden planks, braille and depictions of lunar and solar eclipses with visitors encouraged to touch the artwork. They worked with students in blind schools in the run up to the final result. Their thread art work was actually featured in the final design. A truly collaborative, inclusive pandal.

Tridhara Sammilani’s Ode To Tradition

Having created some of the most popular pandals for 72 years, Tridhara Sammilani are always in favour of keeping it traditional. Last year they didn’t disappoint, using their stunning golden pandal to bring Bengali’s tradition and culture to the attention of younger generation. They featured clay and jute as homage to Bengali tradition and occupations as well as local artists. The central theme itself was Mritshilpa, an ancient form of pottery art. In keeping with ideas about protecting the past, only biodegradable materials and minimal plastics were used on the pandal.

Shiv Mandir Club’s Ethical Message

Designed by Bimal Samanta, this pandal was so powerful as it made use of discarded materials ranging from recycled wood and coconut shells to bottles and bricks. The intention was to make a statement about the beauty that nature’s natural products hold and the lack of necessity for an obsession with consumerist material goods. Beetle leaves were used to made a stunning grandeur of a Durga. Their intention was clearly successful with the beautiful pandal attracting huge crowds.

Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha’s Tea Tribute

This pandal was another one with a beautiful message. Whilst many   clubs focus on attracting crowds and talk with their pandals, this.  one wanted to use their platform to remember those children that would not be coming to see the pandal. They paid homage to small children who work in shanty town tea stalls. Serving the warm liquid and washing countless tea cups day in and out. Child labour is often a neglected social issue so a figure of beauty guaranteed to draw attention of thousands was the perfect opportunity to highlight it. To make the connection, the artist, Arniban Das, used 29000 tea cups in the design as well as self made tea bags and other materials taken from tea stalls.

Ekdalia Evergreen Club’s Decadent Display

Fitting its surroundings on Ekdalia Road, this decadent pandal featured all around lighting and chandeliers filling the high ceilings. Its intricate design was inspired by Brihadeshwara Temple in Tamil Nadu. Historically being quite traditional when it comes to puja, this was actually the first time that the club had had a theme. But they really made a statement of it. The pandal was partnered with a 32 foot Chandmala that is now being considered for a world record. Definitely setting the bar high for this year.

By Josie Hart