The Utkal Durga Puja Committee at BH Area in Kadma, Jamshedpur. (Below) Artists give final touches to the artefacts to be used on the pandal premises of Hind Club even as children cast an eager glance. Pictures by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, Oct. 16: With the Puja revellers demand increasing every year, committees are spending like never before. A walk down the city reveals some of the most promising pandals that could steal the show this year.

Thakur Pyara Singh-Dhurender Singh Club, Kasidih: A replica of the Buddha Temple in Meghalaya, the pandal here is made against the backdrop of a mountain and seems like it has been carved out of stone. The interiors have been attractively painted.

“The paintings add to the overall look of the temple. Commentaries will also be played on Mahisasura vardhan,” said Abhay Singh, senior member of the club. With a budget of Rs 9 lakh, this certainly will be a popular pick.

Sonari Central Durga Puja, Sonari: On the occasion of their golden jubilee, the organisers here have decided to paint the town golden.

With a rath, the pandal has been given an exquisite lighting effect. Artists from Chandanagore have decorated the interiors, which is made of metal plates. “We have spent nearly Rs 10 lakh on the entire pandal. Food stalls will be put up and we have also arranged for car parking facilities,” assured R.K. Gujaral, chairman of the committee.

Tinplate Evening Club Puja, Tinplate: Modelled on a temple, the pandal is made of hay with coats of varnish that add a golden shimmer. The interiors have been shaped up with rice husk along with hay, as organisers have vouched for eco-friendliness this year.

“We have refrained from using plastic,” said Shubhro Goswami, general secretary of Tinplate Sarbojanin Puja Committee. With a budget of a little over Rs 5 lakh, this pandal is worth a visit.

Sidhgora Sarbojanin Puja Pandal, Sidhgora: This puja pandal will shock and surprise people at the same time. With a portrayal of a not-so-pleasant incident of the Rajdhani Express accident near Aurangabad, this pandal will show the derailed and mauled bogies.

Though this idea could be questioned the rest of the pandal is well made. As for the budget, the organisers modestly account a sum of Rs 1.75 lakh.

Hind Club: The pandal here promises to steal the show by depicting scenes from the Mahabharata and that, too, with idols on the move, thanks to the technical support.

The pandal is, however, be shaped like the Mahabharata Vijayi Rath. “While the main idol will be stationed in front, the real activity will happen on another side. This is different and innovative and I am sure people would visit this pandal more than once,” said Ranjeet Prasad, president of Hind Club.

Bhuiyandih Area Durga Puja Pandal: Artists from Kontai have erected a near-perfect Tirupati temple against an elaborate backdrop of a mountain. Nimai Mandal, vice president of the puja committee said: “The overall look is grand but amazingly the material used are simple items like ply, thermocol and plates. We have wrapped up the entire pandal at an affordable budget of Rs.7 lakh.”