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Sweetest face of the Goddess I came across on Panchami at Alamganj puja pandal! |
Yes, now a days smart cum fast-evolving Bengalis start their Durga Puja pandal-hopping right from Panchami. Previously it was a trend in Kolkata and this time I found its spread in my city Bardhaman too! Puja organizers were liberal enough to inaugurate their pandals and open them for visitors right from the evening of auspicious Panchami. I prefer visiting Puja pandals either in daytime when there's no "kilometer long" queue or midnight, by the time other people conclude their celebration for the day. If you haven't experienced Durga Puja in West Bengal you'll probably find my timings bit awkward. May be in the next post I'll publish a photo to show you, how dense the crowd actually is in the prime hours of evening. After midnight as the number of visitors lessens in puja pandals, photographic opportunities do increase. So, due to these various conveniences I have my own sweet hours for pandal hopping.
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These are not smoke engulfing the Goddess, but synthetic cotton, a component of wall decoration |
Last night I managed to visit only four famous Puja pandals of Bardhaman, two located in the proper city and the other two were from Barsul, a panchayat area not far away from the city. People debate whether theme Puja has killed the essence of traditional Durga Puja... I care least as long as the pandal decoration is not too harsh for my eyes and the Puja committee doesn't put a "No Photography" board. Among four places I visited, the Idol of Alamganj Durgotsav committee turned out to be most beautiful, idol of Barsul Young Men's Association was most unique and the idol of Barsul Jagarani Durga Puja Committee was certainly the most photogenic one! Durga Puja in Bengal is not just about the idol, it is about the whole ambiance that's artificially created by artists, called theme. Theme-wise also, both the pandals at Barsul were way ahead of whatever little I saw of Bardhaman. Sarbamilan Sangha took "Amarnath yatra" as their pandal theme and despite their lot of expenditure things didn't quite click well for them. Anyway, be a part of my Panchami midnight pandal hopping. I'll be back with other awesome puja pandals of my city in the next photo post.
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Doesn't this white elephant look awesome? This is the pandal of Barsul Young Men's Association! |
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Entirely ornamented with jute and synthetic cotton, the same committee as mentioned above. |
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Note the neat bamboo work used in the pandal of Barsul Jagarani Durga Puja Committee. |
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The idol of Barsul Jagarani Durga Puja Committee- what a marvelous piece of art! |
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Globular pandal of Alamganj Durgotsov Committee, illuminated red with multiple red LEDs. |
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Inside view of the Alamganj pandal. There was abundance of design with cotton balls! |
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"Amarnath Darshan" as portrayed by the massive pandal of Sarbamilan Sangha. |
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Many pandals are beautified with gorgeous chandeliers! |
Amazing pics, Anunoy!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ravish! :-)
DeleteCaptured with natural lightning that's the beauty of these snaps. Great work Anunoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gowthama... lol... I've no gears to produce pleasant artificial lighting... so natural light is the only hope you know :-P
DeleteWhat's pandal hopping? :/
ReplyDeleteSorry Pankti... I should have described it... Pandal means whatever decorated mammoth structures you're seeing... various puja committees organize puja at different locations of the city right? So, tripping from one puja-site to other is called pandal hopping :-D
DeleteThe pic inside the Alamganj pandal looks so divine , out of the world Anunoy !!!
ReplyDeleteI must visit your place during puja times !! It would be such a treat for the eyes !!
ReplyDeleteYes it's a great time to visit Bengal... a carnival time in true sense!
DeleteI'm glad that you enjoyed these photos Shruti... thanks :-)
Was waiting for these when you posted all the precursor pics of Durga Puja, Beautiful clicks.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shweta... more on the way... please visit back :-))
DeleteWowwww....really loved The idol of Barsul Jagarani Durga Puja Committee...Fantastic work
ReplyDeleteWould love a closer look at Alamganj pandal.:)
Sharma, do visit back... more on the way ;-)
DeleteWow...! The vibrant pandals look fab. I liked your attention to detail like bamboo detailing ;)
ReplyDeleteI never visited a Durga Pandal.
So much time,energy and money along with devotion must have made this pandals a reality.
Nice clicks too.
Thanks a lot Manogna.... I admit these are pieces of art.... I also understand that nothing is permanent... Still I fail to digest the need of so much expenditure on a structure which will be there not more than a week! :-)
DeleteBeautiful photos..... Happy Durga Puja...:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Priyashi... Wish you and your family a very happy festive season :-)
DeleteBrilliant captures! I wish I could attend one...
ReplyDeleteThanks Siddhartha!
DeleteWhy just wish... you can plan a trip :-)
I just want to board a flight and be there. Stunning shots!
ReplyDeleteAmazing !!! Such razzmatazz !!!
ReplyDelete