ARINDAM GANGULY, OP
Bhubaneswar: With Durga Puja drawing closer, the excitement among devotees is rising, and preparations for grand puja pandals are gathering pace across the City. Among the much-awaited celebrations, the Baramunda Durga Puja has once again unveiled an elaborate theme that aims to take visitors back to the age of the Mahabharata. Following the popularity of puja pandals at Rasulgarh, Bomikhal and Saheed Nagar, the Baramunda Durga Puja Committee is preparing a special pandal inspired by ‘Kampilya ’—the ancient capital of the Southern Panchala kingdom and traditionally associated with Draupadi and the Pandavas. Kampilya holds an important place in Mahabharata lore as the setting of Draupadi’s swayamvara, where the Pandavas are said to have participated. This year, the Baramunda committee has chosen the Mahabharata era’s historical and mythological heritage as the central theme of its pandal. “We are trying to showcase the heritage of the Mahabharata era through the pandal.
Our aim is to give visitors a glimpse of the history and cultural heritage associated with Kampi lya,” said Baramunda Durga Puja Committee president Ram Chandra Ransingh. The grand pandal will be around 75 feet high and 110 feet wide.
More than 45 workers are working day and night to complete the structure before the celebrations begins. The committee has also made elaborate arrangements for the safety and comfort of devotees. Around 20 CCTV cameras will be installed at strategic locations, while nearly 100 volunteers will be deployed to manage crowds and ensure security. Several coolers will also be installed near the pandal to provide relief to devotees from the heat during the celebrations. Goddess Durga idol at the venue will be adorned with pure silver ornaments, adding to the grandeur of the celebrations, Ransingh said. This year marks the 27th year of Durga Puja celebrations at Baramunda. The committee has experimented with different creative concepts over the years. This year, the organisers have chosen to blend mythology and art, hoping the Kampi lya-themed pandal will become one of the major attractions of the City’s celebrations.
