Kokrajhar, Oct. 2: The Gournagar Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee of Kokrajhar has come up with the theme of Rabindranath Tagore in their Puja mandap, to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary.

Apart from showcasing a few famous paintings by Tagore, his poems will also be displayed.

The Puja committee has tried to create frames of rural Shantiniketan with krishnashura tree and kahua grass in the backdrop.

The committee has also brought artistes from Shantiniketan to perform Rabindrasangeet and would set up a life-sized statue of the poet.

“As we are celebrating Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary, we have tried to portray his essence in various forms, including rural Shantiniketan with krishnasura tree and kahua grass on the path. We are displaying the famous art pieces by Tagore and his poems. In addition, we have tried to infuse local culture such as the paintings of Bodo bagurumba dance and Assamese Bihu to showcase unity in diversity and a life of peace and harmony,” Kartik Bhattacharjee, the man behind the idea, said.

Bablu Sarkar, chairman of the Puja committee, said the people would get to hear the artistes from Santiniketan, who would perform Rabindrasangeet.

In the Santinagar Sarbajanin Club Puja mandap, celebrating its 59th year, the theme is “bol bom” showcasing myriad faces of security forces, volunteers, medical workers and others, who take care of pilgrims.

“We are trying to portray the faces who serve pilgrims. This include security forces looking after their safety, volunteers serving water and the medical team taking a pilgrim to hospital,” Goutam Dutta, the artist, said.

A total of 160 Puja pandals are being erected in different parts of Kokrajhar district, of which 40 are in Kokrajhar town.

Full-fledged preparations are on at the various pandals, as artists and organisers are busy giving finishing touches to their idols and pandals.

Though Durga Puja is mainly celebrated by Bengalis in Kokrajhar, the trend to participate in the festivities is fast catching up among other committees as well, bringing in fresh ideas and more colour with each passing year.

The police and the district administration are making elaborate security and traffic arrangements during the Puja.