Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Dragon Festival is one if the gorgeous and colourful festival of China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea etc countries. Ahiritola Sarbojanin has decided this year to represent this funfare for the visitors of Durga puja. There would be two gates - one for the public and the other for special guests. Big dragons will decorate the gates. A huge dragon will crown the main pandal and various Chinese lanterns will be under it. A unique lighting project would mark this puja. Visitors have to go to the centre of the pandal to see the idol of goddess Durga made of Chinese pattern. The trend of Confucius would prevail on the form of idol. Several lotuses will decorate the idol. Japanese culture would also prevail in the pandal. Bear festival is one of the main festival of Japan's Hokkaido Island's Inu community in each December. Japanese say this as Kumatsuri. So, a huge bear would also decorate the pandal. -- A. B.

Preparation of Durga Puja pandal at rural Bengal. -- A. B.

Suchitra Sen was admitted to a private nursing home this week where her wrist operation has been done yesterday. She fell down recently at home and broke her wrist. The doctors are saying that her condition is stable. -- A. B.

A better atmosphere is much needed priority to make this earth habitable for the next generation. So, the orgsniser of this year's Durga Puja - Salt Lake AK Block has taken this venture. 140 feet long and 100 feet wide place is being occupied by the puja pandal. Paddy fields and gola would be there. There will be three temples meant for Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar. And the idol of goddess Durga would be established in this third temple of Maheshwar. The idol will a traditional one with sari and ornaments made of clay. Moreover, there would be no 'chalchitra', so the idol would be seen from all sides. -- A. B.

Paintings of Jamini Roy is the theme of 70 year's Durga puja of Kalighat Sarbojanin Durgotsab. Jamini Roy was the eminent painter of Bengal who grabbed the cultural heritage of Bengal. He liked very much the pat chitra or paintings of Kalighat. So, he used to paint imitating the form of Kalighat paintings. It is the 125 year of birth of this legendary painter of Bengal. So, the old Kalighat Sarbojanin of 49, Mahim Halder Street, Kalighat Byamagar premiseshas taken the opportunity to decorate the puja pandal with paintings of Jamini Roy. They're keeping the canvasses on various places of pandal, on which the imitations of Jamini Roy's famous paintings would be installed. Nikhil Paul is the clay-artist and Bibhas Mukhopadhyay is the theme-maker. Lighting of Chandannagar would be there. -- A. B.

Check out this article. I found this page interesting http://www.deccanherald.com/content/280384/bookworm-boulevard.html -- A. B.

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Samudra-Dushan (pollution of sea) is the theme of this year's Durga Puja of New Alipore Suruchi Sangha. And for this purpose, they've taken the example of Goa - one of the most enjoyable place for the tourists. Goa is famous for carnivals and so, big masks are very common to see in the state. Durga puja is also a festival of funfare, so Suruchi Sangha is also focussing on this aspect of big funny masks, as seen in the picture. Theme-maker Subrata Bandyopadhyay. -- A. B.

Global warming is the theme of this year's Barisha Shitala Kishore Sangha's Durga Puja. Devi Durga would be worshipped here as the saviour tree. The organisers will try to create mass awareness about nature, pollution and global warming. Through paintings, murals, motifs of children, trees, waters, birds - they would create an atmosphere of pollution free world. -- A. B.

Tarapith Road Rail station - the way to Tarapith temple. -- A. B.

An idol of 'ardhanarishwar' (half man half woman) has been found recently at the river bank of Sukhchar, a place near Kolkata. It was found during the excavation of a new construction. The experts say, it may be the idol of ardhanarishwar, the goddess of temple established by the Sen Kings of 12 century Bengal. At that time, it was a trend to worship ardhanarishwar idols across Bengal. The Sen Kings established the temple near Bhagirathi, river Ganga. The Archeological Society Of India will soon take over the idol to conserve. The idol was made of stone and the local residents worshiped recently as seen in the picture. -- A. B.

The sun plays an important role at the cause of human civilization. This year, Ajeo Sanhati has taken the theme Sun. There will be at the top of the pandal, a huge sun and beside it, a room as earth, where the stories of various civilization would be depicted. Ma Durga will be represented here on the sun of 26 feet. She is the saviour. The flowers lotus and sunflower will be used here as representative of nature. Tribal people will play 'dhamsa' here during Durga Puja. The theme-maker is Subodh Roy. -- A. B. -- A. B.

Durga Puja - 27 days to go. So, the clay artist of Kumortuli is busy to prepare the idol. -- A. B.

In this 73 year's puja, Pathuriaghata 5 er Pally has chosen the theme - 'kaaler jatrapath' (the thoroughfare of time) or it can say, the evolution of transports. The theme-maker Somnath Mukhopadhyay is trying to represent a unique idol of goddess Durga. The idol would be a combination of traditional and modern look. If you would look at the idol from left, then you can see the traditional look of ma Durga with conventional saraswati and kartick, and if you would look from right side, then you will notice the modern look of ma Durga with modern lakhsmi and ganesh. And for this reason, the idol of Durga would be of 20 hands, instead of traditional 10 hands. And the real pleasure would be to see the little models of various vehicles - from bullock cart to metro rail. These models are being made by wastages of everyday items, like rubber of pressure cooker, broken buttons, crashed water bottles of aluminum etc. The 75 feet long puja pandal will show these innovative models also...

Salt Lake FD Block last year presented 65 feet idol of goddess Durga, and this year has taken the venture to create a unique theme of inner eye, by which one can chose the good over evils. So, an eye would be the huge pandal and within this pandal, art work of paintings (pat chitra) would depict the ten stories of emerge of goddess Durga. In one word, a marvelous piece of art would be this puja pandal. -- A. B.

A tigress of Sundarban was infiltrated in locality last week. The forest department had tried very much and finally caught her last Friday. And after a day's observation, they freed the tigress again in the camp of Sundarban. The queen of Sundarban then crossed the river by swimming. -- A. B.

Sun is the theme of Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra Durga Puja. The sun is here like an iron ball and the rays are made of bamboos and aluminium foil. Models of about ten thousand human made of thermocole would be there inside the puja pandal. And the models will be wrapped by aluminum foil. Theme-maker Gouranga Kuilya. The image of goddess Durga would be very calm and traditional. It is their 12 year's puja. -- A. B.

According to myth, the gods prayed for Sun, Shiva and Durga to destroy the demons who occupied the heaven. The theme-maker Somnath Mukhopadhyay is creating the place where the gods were prayed. And the images of Sun, Shiva and Durga would also be there. So, the theme is 'shaktirupen sansthita'. This puja pandal is near Ramlal Baazar, Kasba. -- A. B.

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Today I went to Serampore to observe Viswakarma puja there. -- A. B.

The idol of goddess Durga into 45 feet high Shiva linga - it is the theme of Borisha Club this year, i.e. 'sristi' - the creation. One lakh eyes will clarify the mystery of creation. And to depict all these, the artist has taken the path of primitive sculpture. Feet of male and female will (as shown in the picture) will be installed at the side of pandal. Durga will stand here on the shoulder of asur and they'll fight. The idol of Durga and other gods would be made of brass. Red and black will be given priority. The songs will be composed by Tanmay Basu. -- A. B.

Goddess Durga is arriving on earth as the fairy of moon... and her childrens are also riding on moon. This unique idol of Durga made of fibre will be this year's puja of Chetla Agrani. And the mahisasur is praying to goddess to free him, sitting on the reverse bowl-like earth. There will be a 18 feet high Shiva linga. Theme-maker Bhabatosh Sutar. -- A. B.

Pace is the secret of success of human race. Bose Pukur Shitala Mandir Durga Puja committee would take the theme of this pace this year by displaying models of 40 and real 120 nos. of hand-pulling rickshaw in their puja pandal. The entire mandap would be like a hand-pulling rickshaw - but it would seen off & on - upside down. Three clay idols would be on the gate who will go ahead with the wheel by tearing the iron chains. They're using the 'shaal' woods to erect the whole pandal. And the lifestyle of adivasi community would be depicted on these logs of 'shaal'. The artist Biswanath Dey is creating the whole theme by the help of 16 artists of Midnapore who are creating the lifestyle of adivasi community on shaal woods. They're making these since last July. Alongwith shaal, mehgani, pyne, hoogly woods are also the ingredients of main pandal. The sari of debi Durga is a ghagra here, like a adivasi woman. The ornaments would be made of clay. And e...

Tomorrow is Viswakarma puja, so the idol is going to the puja pandal. -- A. B.

Viswakarma puja is on coming Monday. Hence, the idols are ready to go to puja pandals. It is the festival of kites also. So, the big colourful kites like pet-kata, chandial, mayurpankhi, mukhpora, ball marka, mombati, ghoila, chowrangee - are ready to fly on Monday. -- A. B.

The hanging veranda at 3rd floor of Victoria Memorial is now opened for all after 22 years. -- A. B.

Theme-maker Bandan Raha is creating the theme of Badamtala Aashar Sangha this year. And the theme is 'Ulto Pathe' - that means, they're walking on the reverse path. If you want to know what's in their mind, you have to go to their 74 year's old Durga Puja at Nepal Dev Bhattacharya street of south Kolkata. Excellent usage of lighting on the idol of goddess Durga would be the main attraction, and it will eye-pleasure at night. Besides the main pandal, eight numbers of gates would be there. And fables, art works would be depicted on the gates. The famous lighting of Sri Babu Das of Chandannagar will make the pandal gorgeous. -- A. B.

"he padma, tomai amai dekha shata shatabar..." The great poet Rabindranath Tagore once expressed his emotions through 'Chaitali' - the collection of poems. He was then on the boat Padma on the river Padma. The poet used to spend several hours on this boat while stayed at Patisar, the zamindari estate in Kushthia of Bangladesh. He loved to be on this boat and had created so many famous poems on board of this boat. Yesterday, the cultural minister of Bangladesh, handed over the replica of this luxurious boat to the vice-chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. -- A. B.

Quit consumerism, take the path of devotion - it is the theme of Nishi Banerjee Street's Kumortuli Sarbojanin Durgotsab. They're creating several temples like Siddheswari, Dhakeswari, Bagala, Manasa, Madan Mohan temple etc. The goddess Durga will establish at Durga Mandir on lotuses. And the ancient real atmosphere inside temples would be created. -- A. B.

Sri Bhumi Sporting Club of Lake Town is preparing the puja pandal with a theme of ancient mythology in which aesthetic value of our heritage and cultural posterity would be depicted. -- A. B.

Next Monday, 17 September Viswakarma Puja. And hundreds of colourful kites will occupy the sky on this occasion. So, the craftsman is busy as you're seeing, with the kites to make them the most prestigious. -- A. B.

Collection of lotuses for Durga Puja has been started in rural Bengal. It is an essential flower, required for Durga Puja. -- A. B.

Director Anurag Basu's latest Hindi film 'Barfi' was shoot partly in north Kolkata. Here in this picture, actor Ranbir Kapoor cycling through the age-old lanes of north Kolkata, named Dorji Para. The movie is slated for release on next Friday, 14 September. -- A. B.

Byantra Nabin Sangha, Joydeb Kundu Lane, Central Howrah : Kashmir's Apple Garden would entertain you on this 51 year's Durga puja. Kasundia Chatro Sangha, Subal Koley Lane, Central Howrah : They will decorate the puja pandal with the depiction of Rabindranath's famous poem 'Haat'. Sabuj Jatri, Acharjee Para, Howrah : It is their platinum jubilee year and the theme of this year is, Durga puja of old aristocratic families. Models of babu bibi culture would also be there. The pandal would be like a nat mandir. The clay artist is Mohan Banshi Rudra Paul. Khurut Sarbojanin Durgotsab, Khagendra Nath Mitra Lane, Central Howrah : Theme- clay dolls of rural culture. The main pandal will be made of leaves of hogla. Theme-maker Asim Panja. Chittaranjan Smriti Mandir, Kadamtala, Central Howrah : This 63 year's puja would be of traditional. Olabibitala Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee : environmental awareness is the theme of this puja. Nilratan Mukherjee Road...

Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra came to Kolkata yesterday at St Xaviers College to promote their new film 'Barfi' directed by Anurag Basu, which is slated for release on 14 September. When the stars arrived at college, huge crowd cheered them. -- A. B.

The bright colours of incredible Rajasthan would be the theme of Ballygunge Cultural Association's Durga puja. Sri Pradip Rudra Paul is the clay artist and Sri Goutam Basu the theme-maker. The idol of goddess Durga would be given a Rajasthani look. The traditional clothings of Rajasthan and ornaments like churi, tip, tickli would be on the image and will be a total look of traditional Rajasthani girl wearing lehenga choli, although the motherly touch of traditional Bengali girl would also be on the image. Even, the famous puppet culture, music and traditional heritage of Rajasthan would also be part and parcel of this year's Puja. -- A. B.

This year's Durga Puja of Ganguly Bagan Milani club would be a different because Samir Aich is the creative artist of puja pandal. He will represent a different image of goddess Durga, who would be an idol of super power, born to kill demon. You can see in this picture, how the idol will look. Helmet would be on the head, hands, weapons all the things would be there with obvious artistic mood, even Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartick, Ganesh would be on the image of goddess Durga. Thousands of white birds will fly inside the puja pandal. In short, it would be a different experience to visit the puja pandal of Ganguly Bagan Milani club. -- A. B.

On the occasion of this 92 year's Durga Puja, Tala Baroari, the organisers are trying to pick a piece of nat mandir of Odhisa by the help of hay. The artists of Odhisa are creating the artwork. If you look at this pandal from outside, this 35 feet pandal would surrender to you as a thatched-roof building. But its inside hue would be different. The floating nat mandir of Puri is surrounded by three sides, but here all the sides would be made of plywood. The 125 feet long and 60 feet wide playground of the club is being used to erect the puja pandal. The Odisi form will be there on the image of goddess Durga. A beautiful peacock would welcome you to watch the idol of goddess Durga. The peacock will be made of wood and coloured bamboos, chumki, jori and shola. Theme-maker Amar Sarkar is creating this puja pandal to entertain visitors of all ages. -- A. B.

The theme of Pally Mangal Samity, Prince Anwar Shah Road Durga Puja is the 'vani' of Upanishad - 'Uttishthita Jago'. The entire pandal would be made by the shape of lotus. And lotus is here the symbol of downtrodden of the society. Floating lotus leaves will be there each weigh of 55-56 grams. All the decorative lotuses, its leaves will be fake but owing to craftsmanship, will look like original. 70 models of downtrodden, whom faces will be of lotuses, would be there. The artist Snehasis Manna thinks, the theme of lotus and peaceful image of goddess Durga would represent the blend of Bouddha (lotus) and Bengal. -- A. B.

The heritage of ancient Bengal is the theme of Dum Dum Mall Pally Sarbojanin Durga Puja. This year they're trying to grab the past by adorning pieces of colourful clothes. The idol of goddess Durga is of traditional daaker saaj, but something new on it will be the target of organisers. They're not using 'shola', but their endeavor is to create effect of 'daaker saaj' through pieces of coloured clothes. The traditional puppet culture would be depicted here through ancient days of heritage and custom. Somnath Mukhopadhyay is the theme-maker. -- A. B.

The theme of Kalighat Sanghashree Durga Puja is 'chalchitra'. It is very unique theme. In this 67 year's puja, the Sanghashree club of Gurupada Halder road is trying to amalgamate old with new. And for this purpose, they're creating the whole puja mandap with various chalchitras (the backdrop of idols). The theme-maker Somnath Mukhopadhyay is now busy with the theme using the colours of rainbow as seen in the picture. The walls of this puja pandal will be 35 feet long and full of colourful chalchitras. Paper pulp is being used to give the environment a different dimension. -- A. B.