Baramunda Durga Puja committee, which wowed all by an imaginary structure titled ‘Durga Mahal’ last year, is all set to create a replica of Akshardham temple this time around
BHUBANESWAR: With less than 10 days to go for the festive fervour of Durga Puja, preparations of puja committees of the city are in full swing.
Organisers are leaving no stone unturned to make their Pandals the most attractive to lure more visitors.
Orissa POST had earlier reported that puja committees of Saheed Nagar and Nayapalli are creating replicas of Chittor Fort and Chhota Imambara respectively.
Also, Rasulgarh Puja Committee will be coming up with an innovative gate titled ‘Flower Gate’. Baramunda Durga Puja Committee is the latest to jump on the bandwagon. The committee has planned to create a replica of the famous Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Ram Mohan Ranasingh, president, Baramunda Puja Committee, said, “This is the 20th year of our committee. More than 50 artistes from Kolkata have been roped in to erect a 75-feet high, 125-feet wide pandal. They have been working tirelessly for the last one month. The total cost of the pandal is estimated to be around Rs 25 lakh. It is a very intricate process and the artists engaged in making the pandal have used foam extensively.”
He also informed that the committee has decided to install 10 CCTV cameras in and around the pandal to enhance security. Besides, 200 security personnel and volunteers will also be deployed to monitor, manage and help visitors. “We also have provision for wheel chair for the elderly and differently abled citizens,” said Ranasingh.
Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, Gujarat is a large Hindu temple complex inspired by Yogiji maharaj, the fourth spiritual successor of Lord Swaminarayan according to the denomination of Swaminarayan Hinduism, and created by Pramukh Swami, the fifth spiritual successor of Lord Swaminarayan according to the denomination of Swaminarayan Hinduism.
Located in the capital of Gujarat, the complex was built over 13 years and is a tribute to Lord Swaminarayan and his life and teachings. At the center of the 23-acre complex is the Akshardham mandir, which is built from 6,000 metric tons of pink sandstone from Rajasthan. The complex’s name refers to the divine abode of Swaminarayan in the BAPS philosophy; followers of Swaminarayan believe that the jiva or soul goes to Akshardham after attaining moksha, or liberation. BAPS followers worship Swaminarayan as God Almighty.
The Baramunda Durga Puja committee always comes up with low-cost innovative ways of decorating the pandal. Last year, they built an imaginary palace titled ‘Durga Mahal.’
