Living up to its name, Sangram Club in Kutchery Chowk, Ranchi, is all set to bring about green revolution this Durga Puja.

Promising to be one of the crowd-puller pandals, the organisers have chosen environment protection as its theme this year.

While the pandal is made of eco-friendly materials such as hay and coconut husk, the organisers will also distribute saplings among pandal-hoppers on all four days of the Puja.

'We want to spread the message of environment protection and also highlight the negative impact of urbanisation,' said Rajesh Kumar Lal, a senior member of the outfit.

Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh and spread across 15,000sqft, the entrance of pandal has been designed in the shape of a tree holding a globe.

The interior portrays two faces of nature.

One shows how urbanisation has robbed the planet of greenery, which is depicted by crying chopped trunks of trees, barren land, landslides and a dried-up waterfall. The other showcases lush green forests, tribals rejoicing and schoolchildren watering plants.

A hut, depicting cottage industry, has also been set up where human models are seen making plates out of leaves and stitching cloth bags.

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VIJAY DEO JHA

Puja Pandal of Sangram Club to spread message of environmental protection

This unique under construction eco-friendly Durga Puja Pandal of Sangram Club at Kutchery Chowk is sure to catch eye-balls of devotees as the pandal is based on the theme of environmental protection.

Devotees will not only receive blessings of Goddess Durga and prasad they will be given sapling with a promise that they will protect the environment.

Constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh for this theme pandal spread over 15,000 square feet carpet area only eco-friendly materials like hay, husk, coconut husks and natural colour.

'Goddess Durga resides at bel tree and devotees visit the tree to receive the Goddess which indicates that how our sages were concerned about environmental protection which we unfortunately ignored in the mad race of urbanisation and industrialisation. We want to use the festival to spread the message of environmental protection,' said Rajesh Kumar Lal, a senior member of the outfit.

Lal said that they have procured over one thousand saplings from district forest department which will be distributed among devotees.

Pandal has been divided into two parts. One part shows how environment has degraded. Tress erected with human face are being chopped and it crying, land turned barren, landslide posing threat and waterfall having turned dry.

Another part of pandal shows a clean and green environment. 'You will see green lush forest and mountain to show happy people living in the lap of nature who are worshipping nature god. We have constructed huts like structure inside which tribal performing dance to praise nature. One hut will represent school where children are planting and watering saplings,' said Lal.

A hut will depict cottage industry where people surviving on forest products like making leaves plate, stitching cloth bag and others.

Ajay Kumar Verma a local artist who is supervising the pandal project said that as many as 25 earthen statues will be installed all a across.

'For instance a statue will be seen chopping a tree and bullock-cart carrying chopped wooden logs. In another side statue of tribal men and women are performing dance and many others. So you will get feel of heaven and hell as well,' said Verma.

The entrance of pandal has been designed in a very different style. Earth is shown placed on a huge tree to suggest how trees are important for survival of human beings.