Every year, Durga Puja committees in the capital put in their best efforts to beautify their pandals. To stand out among others, the Rasulgarh committee— in its 27th year of organising Durga Puja— is creating a fictional style pandal titled ‘Flower Gate’
- More than 450 artisans are working at the pandal
- The budget is estimated to be around Rs 40lakh
Bhubaneswar: Preparations for Durga Puja celebration have begun and several associations and committees have started groundwork for themed pandals in the city. As many as 178 Durga Puja pandals will come up in the capital city last year, which will increase this year.
Every year, Durga Puja committees put in their best efforts to beautify their pandals. To stand out among others, the Rasulgarh committee in its 27th year of organising Durga Puja in the city is creating a fictional style of pandal titled ‘Flower Gate’.
Anil Baliarsingh, president of Rasulgarh Durga Puja Committee, said this year they are not taking inspiration from any particular structure but are creating a fictional structure based on the story of Durga puja celebration in earlier times.
He explained that they tried to showcase the story of Durga puja celebration from starting to the end through the pandal structure. The 70 by 116 ft pandal will be completed in two days before the Sasthi, he said.
Last year, the committee had created a replica of original Royal Albert Hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London.
Before that in 2017, the committee had created a hill station themed pandal for which they replicated a mountain with a railway line and a train passing through the hilly area. Natural plants were used to give it a feel of wildlife and sculpted birds were fixed on the artificial mountain.
“For the last few years we have been creating pandals by using waste materials such as bangles, glass and steel among others. This year, more than 450 artisans are working at the pandal, which is going to cost around Rs 40lakh,” Baliarsingh said. Tapas Swain is the head of the artist group creating the pandal and idol. For this year they are using wood, plaster of Paris and clothes flower for creating pandal.
He said that this year they have faced problem regarding finances as their business have suffered losses due to economic slowdown. “But we can’t stop Durga puja as it is once a year when we welcome Durga maa in our life for seven days.”
Baliarsingh said, “This year, due to government ban on plastic use, we are trying to spread the message among our coordinators, sellers and shopkeepers to avoid using plastic.” On traffic and security, he said that the parking facility in the Rasulgarh area is best in the capital. This prompts visitors of other pandals to park their vehicles here. “Besides, 30 CCTV cameras will be installed and 100 security guards will be deployed in the area.”
To entertain visitors, the organisers have roped in melody artistes and Odia singers such as Asim Panda and Abhijit Mazumdar; who will perform every day till Dashami.
