Durga Puja 2014 - Glimpses of Puja Pandals in Bardhaman

If you look into Her eyes for sometime you tend to forget that you're standing before an idol!

Yes, Anunoy is back with his Durga Puja 2014 photo diary! In the previous post I showed you top four (absolutely my ranking) beautiful Durga Puja pandals of Bardhaman and today I'll be escorting you to few more puja sites where pandal hoppers don't mind waiting in the queue for hours to get a glimpse of the Goddess. Please excuse me for not explaining the term 'Pandal hopping' in the last post, which I realized only after a friend of mine asked in the comment section, "what is pandal hopping?" Wiki says, 'pandal' is a large temporary structure in south Asia erected during various Hindu and Buddhist religious festivals. Pandals are all these big, colorful, artistic structures housing the Goddess Durga which you can see in this as well as the previous photo post. Thus Pandal hopping refers to visiting various pandals located at different places one by one, as a part of Durga Puja celebration with family and friends.

The lotus theme Durga idol by Shyamlal Sarbojanin Durgapuja Committee.

If you remember I had told you my reason for pandal hopping at midnight. No, it's not because I'm a batman fan... simply I avoid the maddening crowd and miles long queues of the evening hours. These pandal hopping photos are gains of my Maha Sasthi late night hunt which will give you good glimpses of 2014 Puja pandals in Bardhaman. Somehow, apart from the lotus themed pandal of Shyamlal Sarbojanin Durgapuja committee constructed with disposable thermocol plates, there was not a single place that could win my vote over Durga puja themes of Barsul. It doesn't mean they were not fine specimens of exquisite craftsmanship by puja theme artists. Ok, now enjoy the Durga Puja as celebrated in my hometown with this brief pictorial pandal hopping. I'll be back in no time to resume this Durga puja 2014 photo diary...!

Gujarati theme inside the pandal of Khosbagan Sarbojanin.

Durga idol by Jora Mandir Puja committee had the most loving face. At least I felt so!

Can you see those painted Kulos ornamenting the pandal of Jora Mandir?

Brilliant wooden works over the pandal of Padmashree Sangha!

There were no less designs in the inside of its pandal too.

Khosbagan Sarbojanin tried to create a Gujarati mood with its picturesque theme!

Durga idol of Laltu Smriti Sangha. There were fabulous designs with colorful fabrics.

The ceiling of the lotus themed pandal, made entirely out of disposable thermocol plates!

A puja pandal with rural domestic ambiance.

Welcome to the pandal of Sabuj Sangha.

Devi's idol at Sabuj Sangha.

Inside of the pandal at Burirbagan Sarbojanin was entirely decorated with paper boats!

Slightly aggressive looking Durga Ma at Burirbagan Sarbojanin.

Gorgeous pandal of Chowrangi Club designed with uncountable pieces of broken mirrors.