Kolkata: From replicas of the Ram temple and installations marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram to towering tributes to ‘Bharat Mata’, several Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata have drawn inspiration from India’s civilisational heritage and nationalism this year, as the BJP came to power in West Bengal.
As crowds throng pandals on Mahasaptami Saturday, the themes reflect diverse interpretations of the country’s spiritual traditions and cultural identity.
At Mohammed Ali Park in central Kolkata, the Youth Association has recreated the architectural grandeur of the Ram temple, using intricate artwork depicting episodes from the Ramayana.
“The idea is to bring India’s architectural heritage and spiritual traditions to the forefront while preserving the traditional essence of Durga Puja,” association general secretary Surendra Kumar Sharma told the media.
Designed under the supervision of artist Chiranjib, the pandal has been constructed primarily using plywood and bamboo. Scenes from the Ramayana and significant episodes from the life of Lord Ram have been incorporated into the structure.
The Goddess Durga idol, crafted by artist Kush Bera, has a stone-coloured appearance and a marble-like finish reminiscent of sculptures found in ancient temples, Sharma said.
About a kilometre away, Santosh Mitra Square has placed patriotism and India’s freedom struggle at the heart of its celebrations with the theme ‘Sanatani Chetanay Vande Mataram’.
The 91st edition of the puja commemorates the 150th anniversary of the national song, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875, committee president Sajal Ghosh, also a BJP MLA, said.
“The installation features structures inspired by the map of India and the Red Fort, illuminated with thousands of lights,” he said.
The elaborate presentation combines artistic installations with a light-and-sound show depicting significant chapters of India’s freedom struggle. Historical events, including the Partition, find representation alongside a train installation and tributes to freedom fighters such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Khudiram Bose and Matangini Hazra.
Ghosh said that despite the expansive patriotic narrative, the central idol of Goddess Durga retains its traditional form.
In south Kolkata’s New Alipore, Suruchi Sangha has opted for a different approach, celebrating rural Bengal’s cultural roots while paying tribute to Syama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, on his 125th birth anniversary.
“The theme, ‘Utsa’, draws on the tranquillity of village life, traditional Bengali landscapes and indigenous craftsmanship,” committee secretary Sourav Sikdar, also a BJP MLA, said.
“Using bamboo and straw, the installation seeks to evoke the simplicity of rural life and highlight the artistic practices and cultural traditions that have shaped Bengal’s countryside,” he said.
On Kolkata’s northern outskirts, Bijoypur Sarbojanin Durgotsav in Sodepur’s HB Town has embraced the theme ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’, placing a towering representation of Bharat Mata at the centre of its celebrations.
A 35-foot-tall statue of Bharat Mata, crafted by artist Partha Maity, forms the centrepiece of the installation.
“We seek to instil nationalist fervour and sentiment through this year’s puja,” a committee spokesperson said.
The idol draws inspiration from the deity at the Vaishno Devi temple, he said.
