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| The Durga idol at Shilpa Samiti Para in Jalpaiguri. Picture by Biplab Basak |
Rain or sunshine, hit the street with a copy of The Telegraph guide on Mahasaptami for north Bengal. Here we go. Happy sojourn
SILIGURI
Jatiya Shakti Sangha O Pathagar
The club presents glimpses of the Egyptian civilisation, with replicas of pyramids, the Sphinx and mummies, hieroglyphics on the wall and a museum housing information on the country by the Nile.
It is the sole club of the town with a website of its own — www.siligurijss.org — complete with pictures of the pandal, the idols, illumination and brief history.
Central Colony
The raw material is bamboo. The club, in its 46th year, has erected an enormous temple with the idols made of tiny bamboo pieces by artisans from Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri district.
Rathkhola Club
It is as if one is at Vivekananda memorial rock in Kanyakumari. The ambience is serene with a replica of the sea water lapping the stone. The idols are from Kumartuli in Calcutta
Swastika Yubak Sangha
The theme is mukh o mukhosh (face and the mask) with hundreds of masks representing the folklore of north Bengal in a pandal made of bamboo. The other attraction of this club, celebrating its 51st year, is the idol, made by artisans from Midnapore, which carries the look of a bamboo-finish. The illumination has been used in such a way that the primary colours on the masks come out prominently. For entertainment, dhakis, also from Midnapore, will perform during the puja days.
Shaktigarh Sarbojnin Durgotshav
Pandal hoppers can visit the ruins of the Tamluk palace, containing the temples of Durga, Jagannath and Shiva. The ruined walls portray motifs of several gods and goddesses, flowers and intricate designs. There is a rath and a palki among the other attractions on the pandal campus. The idols are traditional with the illumination appropriate for projecting ruins.
JALPAIGURI
Tarun Dal
Using mainly crusts of betel nuts and jute sticks, the organisers have made a replica of a temple in Maharashtra. The idols have been dressed in finery made of thermocol, otherwise known as daker saaj.
Pandapara Sarbojonin:
The Devi here is a combination of three goddesses — Durga, Kali and Laxmi — with three faces and 16 hands. The pandal is a simulated temple from outside while inside, there are popular scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata, portrayed in earthen frames.
Raikatpara Barowari:
The set has been almost lifted from Rajasthan. The pandal is in the form of a fort from the land of camels, made with stones and brick on pieces of bamboo-made sheets, generally used as fences. The idols are of the Rajasthani gharana, in ethnic attire and ornaments. Rajasthani folk songs will be the sole entertainment on the campus.
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| The Durga idol at Shilpa Samiti Para in Jalpaiguri. Picture by Biplab Basak |
MALDA
Shibaji Sangha
A 45ft-high temple with elaborate designs in fibre and a traditional idol. The Beijing Olympics logo is one of the main illuminations visible.
Santibharati Parishad
An ancient temple with Madhubani art on the outdoors as well as indoor. Visitors need to cross 11 luminous gates raised by decorators from Chandernagore to reach the pandal, housing a traditional idol of Durga and her children. Mickey Mouse and Lord Krishna can be seen glowing in the lighted up frames.
Sarbojoyee:
A replica of the Kailash Parbat with earthen models of Shiva, the suicide of Sati and other popular extracts from Hindu mythology have been projected this year. Lights from Nabadwip illuminate the campus.
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| The Durga idol at Shilpa Samiti Para in Jalpaiguri. Picture by Biplab Basak |
RAIGANJ
Rabindra Institute
Melbourne University, made of the outer covering of maize, houses not students but Devi Durga. The idol is made of tulaipanji rice, famous in the two Dinajpurs for its flavour. The lights are from Chandernagore.
Bidrohi
A replica of Jaimahal Palace of Rajasthan, the hugeness of the pandal attracts visitors. The idols are made in Nabadwip and lights are from Chandernagore.
Sashtri Sangha
The idols are from Calcutta’s Kumartuli and are replicas of a Ganesh temple in south India. The illumination is by artists from Chandernagore.
BALURGHAT
Biplabi Sangha
Steel utensils, ranging from spoons, forks, bowls and cups, have been stuck on aluminium sheets to create designs. This has rendered a unique look to the pandal, built on a simulated gothic structure. The idols are from Krishnagar while lights are from Chandernagore.
Srijani Sangha
Plywood is the base of the pandal, representing a fusion of a palace and a temple. Grooved and sliced bamboo has been fitted in different designs to the plywood.
Uttamasha Pally:
In its golden jubilee year, the club has used jute to make the pandal and the idols. Artisans from Berhampore used various types of jute to raise the 80ftX65ft pandal while experts from Krishnagar have used the same material to make the idols.
COOCH BEHAR
Debibari
Introduced by King Bishwasingha about 450 years ago, the puja at Debibari is a crowd-puller for its heritage and uniqueness.
The goddess here is mounted on both the lion and tiger, with Jaya and Bijaya, her two maids, by her sides instead of her children. Animals and birds are sacrificed during the puja
Bharat Club
In its golden jubilee year, the club has set up three separate pandals on different themes.
The main pandal is a replica of the Birla temple in Jaipur. The second is that of the Kanyakumari temple amid water. The third pandal looks like a tea garden. Electricians from Chandernagore have illuminated the campus.
Durgabari Durgotsav Committee
Artisans from Midnapore have built a temple using hogla leaves outside and glass and bangle pieces inside. Six illuminated gates stand on the way to the pandal which houses the idol made entirely of glass.
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| The Durga idol at Shilpa Samiti Para in Jalpaiguri. Picture by Biplab Basak |
ALIPURDUAR
Stationpara Club
A replica of the famous Akshardham temple of Gujarat, the pandal has idols from Krishnagar and illumination by local decorators.
Swami Vivekananda Club
The Golden Temple of Amritsar houses an idol made of bamboo in the 62nd year of the club’s puja.
Babupara Club
A temple, the idols of which are from Calcutta’s Kumartuli. The club has arranged for a blood donation on Saptami and will feed the poor on Nabami.
ISLAMPUR
Mondolpara Sarbojonin
The pandal is made of mats and decorated with red sand. Idols here wear the traditional daker saaj.
Kamal Memorial Club
Lights from Chandernagore illuminate the pandal, a replica of a south Indian temple. The idols have the traditional look.
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