Khalna in Bagnan is known for celebrating Lakshmi Puja in a grand manner. Till recently, most of the organisers here celebrated the puja in a traditional manner. However, in the last few years, the trend of theme pujas is catching on fast.

Organiser: Khalna Kohinoor Club

Year: 148th

Theme: Life of Eskimos

The pandal was built in the shape of an igloo. Inside, seals and polar bears were seen as were Eskimos fishing in ice-filled lakes using harpoons and riding canoes. There were a number of small igloos inside the pandal. Jute, plaster of Paris and cotton were extensively used for making the pandal. Lights were carefully chosen to give an effect of twilight. “Most villagers are ignorant about the lives of Eskimos. So we decided to portray the struggles of the life of Eskimos,” said Jayanta Das, secretary of the puja committee. He said that the pandal was designed by a club member and it was made by club members as well. No theme-maker or artist was engaged for the purpose. Lakshmi was seated on a sledge drawn by a reindeer.

Organiser: Khalna Mitali Sangha

Year: 51st

Theme: Coal mine

The pandal was made in the shape of a hillock with a coal mine. Scenes showing a lift taking miners inside the coal mine, trolleys and trays carrying chunks of coal, labourers digging for coal inside a tunnel and such other activities were depicted to give the feel of a coal mine. Paper boards, thermocol and plastic sheets were used to make the pandal. “A large number of people in India, mostly living in villages, still use coal as fuel. They should know how hard the life of a miner is,” said Shyamal Dhara, one of the organisers of the club. The image of Lakshmi also looked like it was made of coal.

Organiser: Khalna Kalimata Tarun Sangha

Year: 92nd

Theme: Nalanda Viswavidyalaya

The pandal was designed like one of the monasteries inside the ancient Nalanda Viswavidyalaya. Images of Buddha were pasted on the walls of the pandal which were made of thermocol and cloth. Black and grey colours were later sprayed on the walls to bring the effect of ruins. A clay model of celebrated Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang, who visited Nalanda Viswavidyalaya during his travel

in India, was also installed near the pandal. The image of Lakshmi was given the appearance of Buddha. “Nalanda Viswavidyalaya was an ancient seat of learning. We have chosen to depict that in our puja,” said Abhijit Bodhok, secretary of the club.

Organiser: Paschim Khalna Amra Sabai

Year : 30th

Theme: Zamindar’s farmland

The pandal was made on a plot of land adjacent to an old, dilapidated chandi mandap of a once affluent family of the village. The idol of Lakshmi was installed in a barn with stacks of straw all around. Clay models of village women cooking, offering prayers at tulsi mancha, village singers and zamindar supervising farmers harvesting paddy, with a hukka in hand completed the picture of a village. A total of 18 clay models were used to make the theme. Cloth, straw, bamboo and water colours were used extensively. To recreate the village atmosphere after sundown, a number of kerosene lamps were used. “The theme was an old village scenario. Today, villages have been electrified but it was not so several years ago. We have tried to recreate that atmosphere,” said Ramesh Karati, the secretary of the puja committee.

Organiser: Khalna Amra Sabai

Year: 35th

Theme: Bishnupur Terracotta Temple

The pandal was shaped like a popular terracotta temple in Bishnupur. The dome and the terracotta tiles were made of thermocol sprayed with red colour to give the effect of terracotta. Jute and plaster of Paris were also extensively used. There was terracotta work also in the interior of the pandal. Lakshmi was seen descending from heaven through the clouds, answering the prayers of the people. “Apart from Bankura’s Bishnupur, there are a number of terracotta temples in Howrah too. They need to be restored urgently. We have chosen the theme of terracotta temple to drive home the point,” said Ashish Bodhak, president of the puja committee.