Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

The theme of this year's Dum Dum Bangur Avenue Pratirodh Bahini Durga Puja is the historical drama of Dinabandhu Mitra 'Neel Darpan'. By this way, they'll pay honour to history of Bengali Drama, as well as will recall the protests and battle of Bengal's farmers against British rule. Neel Darpan was first published in the year 1860. So, 2010 was the year of its centenary. And for the first time, a total Durga Puja pandal will be dedicated to a drama. Total aspect of this drama would be depicted within the area of 17,097 sqft. The organisers brought 'Neel' dana from Bengaluru and a Neel Kuthi will be erected on the model of Kuthi, existing at a small village of Bangladesh. Total 25 models (as seen in the picture) will depict the story of 'Neel Darpan'. The organisers have started to cultivate paddy since last March. Moreover, the canal beside the paddy field, other plants and trees would also be there. The idol of goddess Durga will be an

Barisha Tarun Tirtho would be decorated by the union of festivity, fair and colour. And fair means 'Nagardola' - the favourite of common Bengalee. So, the theme-maker Bishwanath Dey has chosen the theme Nagardola, as this year's theme. Iron, wood, bamboo and colour are the elements by which the puja pandal would be erected. Various types of Nagardola and Dolna would be made there to attract visitors. At the first step, revolving Nagardola would be there to attract people. This type of Nagardola can be seen only in Singapore and Indonesia. At the second step, there would be a Nagardola made of woods, visitors may ride on it. At the last stage, there would be a Nagardola like a revolving Nat Mandir. Devi Durga would be on the horn of Mahisasur, which might be illustrated as swinging goddess riding on Nagardola. Only the Trishul of Devi Durga would be there as weapons. All the area will take the form of village fair, with a soft and beautiful atmosphere of festi

The lost childhood will be recovered in the puja pandal of Khidirpur Nabarag Sangha. The obsessions of childhood, fear of homework, playing hide & seek, atmosphere of autumn festival would be there, or the sketches on drawing books, colours, expression of a green heart - all the flavours of precious childhood would be there at the puja mandap. So, the theme is 'Aamar Chelebela' (My Childhood). It is the brain-child of theme-maker Shantanu Chattopadhyay. Transparent Japanese clothes 'Tarpedo' will be used to draw and write. Many comic characters would also be there. Moreover, balls, boats, toys, bottles used by kids will also be there.To amuse kids, the lion of goddess Durga will be as Mama and the Asur would also be a comic character. With the help of reflected light, Tarpedo clothes and suitable background music, the puja pandal would be an ideal place to like by the children. -- A. B.

'Sristi Roop' is the theme of this year's Durga Puja of South Kolkata's Netaji Jatiyo Seba dal. According to mythology, goddess Durga destroyed Mahisasur by attaining power from all the major gods. Here at this puja mandap, the calm and peaceful image of goddess Durga would be viewed by the visitors. The 16 ft high devi Durga would be found in a look of meditation. A land area of 150/50 ft would be used for this purpose. A pond made of concrete is being made here on the ground which will play major role in depiction of the theme. The pandal will be prepared by aluminium foil, fence of bamboo, leaves, iron sheet, tafota cloth and transparent poly cloth. About 1500 bamboos would be used to erect the pandal. The hanging of bamboos of around 70 ft, surely be the main attraction of this puja mandap. And the pool would be the treasure of mystery. The puja is of 62 years. The club authority would inaugurate the puja by some elders of old home on the day of Chatur

Utsav means festival of colours. And butterfly is the symbol of colours. Now it will be very true for the puja mandap of Naktala Udayan Sangha. Theme-maker Bhabatosh Sutar is making the mandap and idol of goddess Durga this year also. In this 26th year, 80 colourful butterflies will surround the puja mandap. And the story of caterpillar to butterfly would be depicted here. The structure of butterflies are being made of iron. Works of acrylic would be on the clothes covered the irons. Beauty and colour will reign here by the help of due lighting. The main pandal will be of 44 ft high. And the viewers would have illusions that so many butterflies are flying within the kingdom of flowers. The idol of goddess Durga would also be on the backdrop of colourful wings of a butterfly. Ustad Rashid Khan is composing the theme song of this puja. As a whole, Naktala Udayan Sangha is ready to represent a heavenly experience for the viewers. -- A. B.

Khidirpur Pally Sharadiya Durga Puja 2012 theme is 'Trilok Darshan' - tour of 'pataal, martya & swarga'. The way to reach at the place of goddess Durga is going through pataal and martyalok. To create the real-life paths of 'Trilok', the artists are working day and night under the guidance of theme-maker Sushanta Paul. The paths will be an illusion for the viewers. The pandals will be made of iron, cane, cotton fibre, GI and fibre sheet. The structure of goddess Durga will be made of iron. But the hands of Durga would be devoid of weapons, only the Mahishashur would be stabbed by trishul on head. The pataal or hell would be real-life by the special effects. The martya or earth would be made of green with light and music. The swarg or heaven would like to be a dream with enchantment. To create this atmosphere, blue and white lighting would help. A team of 20-25 workers are gradually creating this theme since June. It is their 71 year's puja.

Sanatan Dinda is the theme-maker of this year's Durga Puja of Jodhpur Park 95 Pally. And the theme is 'Ananda'. We often express our feelings with hands, so, thousands of hands will expose the theme which Lalan Fakir had expressed 150 years ago with the immortal lines "aat kuthurir noi darja aanta, tar moddhye moddhye jhorka kata". Work of plaster of Paris is in progress since June. The mondop will be a kind of stage. Rabindra Sangeet would be played on the background. The lightning will be fitted with the harmony of stage. The idol of goddess DURGA would be made of fibre glass. The artist is making the idol inside the club. The only weapon of goddess DURGA will be Trishul here. Durga would be here with an image of softness of beauty. But, no spiritual matter will be there. Other goddesses of devi Durga will be showed here on 'Pot'. Several paintings of Sanatan Dinda will be exhibited on the stage and the paintings would be changed by the mov