In pictures: Lalabagan Nabankur Durga Puja highlights sea pollution with ‘Karagar’ theme

The oceans, home to countless species of marine life, have turned into a prison of plastic. This stark reality has been captured by Lalabagan Nabankur Durgotsav in Manicktala, whose Durga Puja theme this year is titled ‘Karagar’, meaning prison

Designed to resemble an underwater aquarium, this north Kolkata pandal draws attention to the global menace of sea pollution. This crisis has become a cause for alarm among scientists and environmentalists worldwide

According to studies, at least 267 species of marine life face existential threats because of plastic waste. Nearly 86 per cent of sea turtles, alongside fish, birds and corals, are directly affected by plastic debris choking the oceans. Lalabagan Nabankur’s puja committee has chosen to bring this danger closer to home during the city’s biggest festival, using creativity to provoke awareness

The pandal is crafted with lakhs of discarded plastic bottles and other forms of single-use plastic, transformed into a hauntingly beautiful yet thought-provoking setting

Under the artistic direction of Prashanta Pal, the goddess takes the form of a sea deity. Her crown resembles a conch, symbolising the ocean itself, while the surrounding décor mimics the feel of an underwater world

Visitors walking in can experience the unsettling beauty of an oceanic prison, where marine creatures struggle for survival

By choosing ‘Karagar’ as its theme, Lalabagan Nabankur invites the city to reflect on how human negligence has shackled nature