Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

"অষ্টলক্ষীর আবির্ভাব" is the theme of Karbagan Sarbojanin. Theme-maker Tapan Dutta is creating this theme where Debi is not only Durga, but Laxmi too. 8 thousand key-rings with the image of goddess Laxmi would be seen here decorating puja pandal. Hats of Asam and farmer's will also be seen here. Clay artist Swapan Paul is making the idol keeping in view the traditional form of idol. But the uniqueness is, only two hands of Debi Durga will hold weapons, but rest of the eight hands will hold flaming lamps (Pradip). -- A. B.

''কর্ণিক" (trowel) is their main thing to work, they're the mason and labourers of building construction. Lalabagan Sarbojanin has adopted the theme of this labourers to pay honour to their profession. Many trowels are being made to decorate the pandal. Theme-maker Partha Ranjan Ghosh is making the theme. All the things that masons and other labourers generally use to make buildings are being made here to decorate the pandal. The idol of Debi Durga is being made by sand. -- A. B.

On this golden jubillee year, theme-maker Anirban Das is creating 'রংবাজি' theme for Patipukur Basak Bagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee. Various firecrackers, wooden and clay dolls will decorate the puja pandal. Diwali dolls or Pari dolls of Medinipur as seen in the picture, would be seen at the puja mandap. Iron, wood, bamboo, wooden dolls, colour, Pat-Chitra, fibre are being used to make pandals. At the entrance, you can see Ravan's image, then the walls would be decorated by Diwali dolls holding lamps. Replica of various firecrackers will welcome the viewers. The main mandap would be in the shape of 'Oiravat' - the elephant of Heaven. 40 thousand lamps will shape 30 ft high elephant. Clay artist Naba Paul is making the traditional idol of Debi Durga. -- A. B.

On this 55th year "মাতৃরূপেণ" is the theme of Pallymangal Samity, Anwar Shah Road. At their Taltala ground, Theme-maker Samar Halder is making the puja pandal in such a way that, the 'mother' form of goddess Durga may expose by the special atmosphere to be created. The elements of puja i.e. ghot, shankh, bells, lamps etc are being made by pieces of bamboos, shola, clay, wood, iron, clothes etc. The main mandap would be in the shape of 'gola' of paddy. The clay idol of Debi Durga will be mainly traditional but would be represented as Mahalaxmi here. -- A. B.

'Tipni' industry or 'tepa' doll was the traditional clay culture, rural cottage industry of south 24-Parganas. Once upon a time, mothers used to solace childrens with these 'tepa' dolls. Hatkhola Gosainpara Sarbojanin is trying to bring back those days by adopting this theme. Thousands of black & white 'tepa' dolls would be used to decorate the puja pandal. The puja mandap will be in a form of thatched house as seen in remote villages. The idol of Debi Durga will be made of clay, but the speciality is, two hands of Debi Durga will hold weapons, but rest of the hands would be in the shape of 'tepa' dolls. -- A. B.

A piece of Nagaland would be seen at the puja mandap of Sovabazar 9er Pally. Theme-maker Debabrata Sinha ans Indrajit Roy are making a small village of Nagaland where the ancient culture and traditions of Naga tribes would give the puja pandal a different look. Naga tribes usually decorate their houses by big heads of buffaloes. And they believe in God. 'Totem' is their God. They decorate their body and face with paintings. And sing like Santhals. In fact, it is very rich theme as a subject, viewers can enjoy it very much. -- A. B.

Many clay lamps (Pradip) would be used at the puja pandal of Ajeo Sanghati. About 50 thousand lamps will be on the centre of mandap and Debi Durga would be on the 'pilsuj'. On this 54th year, clay artist Parimal Paul is making the traditional idol of Debi Durga. Theme-maker Biswanath Dey. -- A. B.

On this 24th year, Theme-maker Indrajit Roy and Debabrata Sinha are creating the scenes of epic 'Ramayana' for Vivekananda Sporting Club, Lake Town. Their theme is: Lanka Kando. 'Banar sena' of Sri Ramchandra will dominate the pandal. No, not real, but artificial. Soil, dry hay, barks of trees, bamboo would be used to decorate the pandal. Fluorescent colours will be used in the pandal. -- A. B.

Amalgamation of Rajasthani folk and Bengal's culture would be seen at the puja mandap of Thakurpukur Panchanantala SB Park. Theme-maker Biswanath Dey is creating the theme of "story-telling paintings" by imitating Rajasthan's "Padh" pat chitra. Clay artist Naba Paul of Kumortuli is making 16 ft wide and 14 ft high clay idol of Debi Durga. In short, a piece of Rajasthan would be seen here. -- A. B.

Theme-maker Shakti Sharma is creating the theme "অরণ্যের ডাক" (Aranyer Daak). At this age of concrete, we've lost the life of soothing Nature. All became artificial. So, we must response to the call of Nature to bring back the peace, happiness and love. Atmosphere of jungle is being created here by making animals with the help of plastic pipes. -- A. B.

Theme-maker Subodh Roy is creating the theme of Shib Mandir. About 40 artists are making the pandal by wood, plywood, thermocole, cloth etc. They're creating a boat just like 'মধুকর ডিংগা' of Chand Soudagar. They're painting portraits in the style of Jamini Roy too. On this 78th year, Shib Mandir adopted the theme "বাণিজ্যে বসতে বাংগালি". The theme would depict the past glory of Bengalees adopted business and gained success like Chand Saudagar, Dhanapati, Srimanta and Behari Dutta. But, the idleness in nature gifted them set back and the Bengalees lost their past glory. To bring back the past glory, Shib Mandir has adopted this unique theme. -- A. B.

On this 83rd year, theme-maker Anirban Das is creating the theme of Kankurgachi Jubok Brinda's theme Durga puja. The popular 'Rather Mela' is the theme this year. A real chariot is being made for this purpose. It would be dragged through a narrow lane of north Kolkata. But all of them will be created on the puja mandap and it would be a real pleasure for the visitors. -- A. B.

On this 67th year, "ফুলের সাজে, ফুলের মাঝে" is the theme of Entally Padmapukur 20er Pally Durga pujo. They're the pioneer of 'Nabadurga' in West Bengal. Theme-maker Rintu Das is making the theme here mainly with 'শিউলি' flowers of thermocole. Sanatan Paul of Kumortuli is making the idol of Debi Durga as "ফুলেশ্বরী"- various flowers will adorne Ma Durga. On the ground, a gigantic leaf of lotus is being created, lakhs of flowers will decorate the leaf, surrounded by green grass. ফুলের সাজে, ফুলের মাঝে শিউলিফুলেশ্বরীOval shaped 50 ft high pandal would be created. Debi Mahamaya will be seated on lotus. One lakh mirrors of 6 inches will be there inside the pandal. Small mirrors would also be installed on the outside wall of pandal where scenery of Nature will be reflected. The trees will be adorned by artificial Shiuli flowers. The nearby houses would also be decorated by Shiuli flowers, -- A. B. "ফুলের সাজে, ফুলের মাঝে" শ

Theme-maker Amar Sarkar is creating the theme of Tala Baroari. Catchline: "সুর সপ্তক তুলছে তান সপ্ত বীণার সুর / মা আসছেন মাতিয়ে ভুবন বিনাশ হবে অ-সুর / জীবন ভেলায় চলব ভেসে সুরের ছন্দে দেব পাড়ি / সুরের দেশে চলল নিয়ে এবার টালা বারোয়ারি।" No more weapons on the hands of Durga - the goddess is here the idol of music, perfectly tuned, various musical instruments will surround her. 10 big saxofones will welcome you at the doorstep of puja mandap. Live orchestra may entertain the visitors here. -- A. B.

The rural cottage industry of a remote village of Odisha is the theme of Netaji Sporting Club, Lake Town. Raghurajpur is the village. And it is very rich in folk art. So, the theme is "রং-এ রূপে রঘুরাজপুর"। In the form of picture and paintings, various folk tales of Odisha would be promoted here. The famous 'rath' or chariot would be there in front of puja mandap. Moreover, so many dolls made of hay and peels of coconut would be there. Bright colours will enchant the visitors here. The idol of Debi Durga would be on the basis of 'pat' industry of Odhisa. The village Raghurajpur is famous mainly for its 'Gotipura' dance and 'pat' industry. Besides, tasar painting, musk, doll, paper painting are also famous there. The craftsmanship of Durga mandir is being depicted here very carefully. -- A. B.

Saji Utsab of Haryana is the theme of Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha's Durga Puja - "রং-এ রং-এ মা আসছেন অশুভের বিনাশে"। Utsav means reunion. The colours of festival touch everyone irrespective of cast and creeds. Prashanta Paul, one of the master of installation art is creating this theme. The idol of Debi Durga would be of traditional image of village bride of Haryana wearing Saji festival's ethnic costumes. In short, it would be a different theme and visitors will like. -- A. B.

Theme-maker Prashanta Paul is creating a piece of peaceful village on the concrete of Maniktala Lalabagan Nabangkur Durga puja this year. Clay and bamboo are the main element of puja pandal. So, their catch line is: "মাটির টানে বাঁশের বাঁধনে উৎসব উঠবে জমে"। The image of debi Durga would be of a village bride. Hence, the visitors will feel the peace, happiness and simplicity of a rural village in the puja mandap of Maniktala Lalabagan Nabangkur. -- A. B.

Hi-tech 3D Durga will astonish viewers at Jodhpur Park Sharadiya Durgotsab Committee's puja. "ত্রিনয়নী" would be worshiped this year there in the form of 3D. This unique theme is being possible by the help of 3D printing machine. And the whole thing would be compiled by CAD-CAM process. CAD means Computer Aided Design and CAM means Computer Aided Manufacturing. Any form can be achieved by the help of 3D Scalpting Application. -- A. B. -- A. B.

Handicrafts of bamboo is being adopted by Durga Puja committee of Dum Dum Park Tarun Dal. This cottage industry is very old and hardly seen everywhere. "রং-এ বাঁশে জাল বুনি" is the theme and bamboo is the main element of pandal. Theme-maker Anirban Das is creating this theme. Large trees, peacocks, sea, coloured fishes, birds, wind-mill etc. would be made by bamboos. Beautiful colours will welcome visitors here. The idol of debi Durga will be traditional. Clay artist Parimal Paul is making the idol. Hence, on this 37th year, Dum Dum Park Tarun Dal's puja will surely attract viewers, they think. -- A. B.

Devotees are now visiting Goddess Kali at Firingi Kali Bari of Bowbazar to worship for this evening. -- A. B.

On this 77th year, theme-maker Shib Shankar Das is creating the theme "দেবীর মায়ায়, আলো-ছায়ায়" (seasonal change) for Kashi Bose Lane's Durga Puja. The diversity of Nature, its vividness, minute changes... pleasing... would be depicted in the theme. Sumantra Mukhopadhyay is making the clay idol of Debi Durga. Rajasthani touch would be there on the idol of Durga. The puja will start here on the day of Mahalaya. 9 brahmins will read 'Chandi' and would perform 'yagna' (যজ্ঞ). On the day of 'Nabami' 56 items of ''bhog' will be presented to Ma Durga. Kashi Bose Lane has already bagged about 250 nos. of prizes during this 77 years. So, they hope, this year also they'd bag several prizes. -- A. B.

By installation art, Sri Dipak Ghosh is creating the theme of Lake Gardens Peoples' Association's Durga Puja this year. He is working for them for continuous 13 years. It is their pre-diamond jubillee year. Dipak Ghosh is a renowned magician of thermocole. This year, his theme is "ওঁ অগ্ন্যায় স্বাহা"। Agni or fire is the God of rituals perform with fire (যজ্ঞ). And he conveys the presentations in ritual to heaven - it is the faith of Hindus. In spite of 'Agni's ferocious image, he is inevitable for common man. Agni is unavoidable for auspicious occasions and it has the power to cure diseases by remaining into the stomach. Theme-maker Dipak Ghosh earlier created replica of Dilwara temple for Jodhpur Park, Jaisalmer's Ludhruba temple for Lake Town Adhibasibrinda, Tridhara Sammilani's "at the land of Rajasthan", Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh for Suruchi Sangha etc. Asis Ghosh - the artist from Shantiniketan is creating the idol

On this 48th year of Durga Puja, Dum Dum Park Jubok Brinda has adopting the theme "আনন্দ যখন শক্তিময়" - after the killing of ill-image, auspicious moments emerge. Before entering into the pandal, the usual image of demon-killer Debi Durga will expose, and in the main pandal, the peaceful image of Ma Durga would be seen. Flowers and green plants will decorate the surroundings of puja mandap. Thermocole, foam etc would be the elements of pandal.The paint boxes, wooden batam, broken glasses would be used to decorate pandals. -- A. B.

On this 57th year's Durga Puja, Santoshpur Lake Pally is adopting a theme: "তিন ভাগ জল, এক ভাগ স্থল"। They've taken the venture to decorate pandal by about 20 Lakhs transparent plastic glasses and huge amount of costly seashells/oyster imported from foreign countries like Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and from Rameswaram and Kanya Kumari of India. Moreover, wool and fibre of vivid colour would be used to decorate the pandal. তিভাভাস্থ Sanjib Saha is the Theme-maker. The pandal would be designed as waves...one wave would be of plastic glasses, the other would be of wools, 3D effects would be there in the pandals. The feelings of under water scenes of sea would be the main attraction of this puja pandal. Parimal Pal of Kumortuli is the clay artist. The ornaments of Debi Durga will be decorated by Sanjib Saha. Precious pearls and oysters would be used to adorne Debi Durga. Moreover, a pavilion would be there to exhibit hundreds of oy

Kolkata was the first capital of India during British Raj. Archaeological Survey Of India maintains many century-old monuments of the city like Asiatic Society, St. John's Church (Job Charnock's tomb is here), Metcalf Hall, Clive House, Portuguese Church at Ezra Street, the church for Jews at Brabourne Road, Bethel Synagogue and some other churches of Kolkata. In addition, they repaired Victoria Memorial, National Library and Jorasanko Thakurbari already. Hence, Kolkata should be declared as 'Heritage City'. -- A. B.