The pandal at Uttar Bantra Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee’s puja and (below) Bhabatosh Sutar Pictures by Anup Bhattacharya

A huge tent has been pitched on the ground near the T8 bus stand on Natabar Pal Road. The colourful tent top is visible from Drainage Canal Road. As one approaches Natabar Pal Road, the hectic activity becomes visible. Posters of Lal Paharir Nachni, Mirar Bandhuwa, E Ek Ajab Chiriakhana and others beckon the curious on-looker.

This is the Uttar Bantra Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee’s pandal. Venturing into the theme game for its platinum jubilee year, the committee has roped in a big name from Calcutta, Bhabatosh Sutar, to design their puja. Sutar, in his inimicable style, has picked the jatra for a theme.

Having spent his childhood in a village in Barisal, Sutar picks up vignettes and icons from the village to depict his art. The Bantra pandal is just another piece from his childhood memory that Bhabatosh has brought to life. Jatra is the most popular performing art in a village and Bhabatosh has witnessed it in his childhood days. “Jatras were staged frequently on occasions like Durga puja and Poush Parbon, after farmers had harvested their paddy. It was the greatest form of entertainment for villagers, which is on the wane now. I chose a theme on jatra for this puja because this culture signifies festivities, happiness and there is scope for use of a lot of colour,” said Bhabatosh.

The idols that resemble shongs in a jatra

The theme has been designed to give visitors a complete feel of jatra. The tent, measuring 64-feet in diameter, includes all elements of jatra. While the outside has been made of waterproof canvas, inside, white cloth bearing bright appliqué designs have been used to do up the ceiling. Corrugated iron sheets make up the outside wall as is in real jatra tents. Visitors will enter the main pandal through another smaller tent, erected a few feet apart. The inside of the entrance tent will resemble a jatra green room with costumes, mirrors and make-up. “The connecting passage from the entrance to the main pandal will have screens showing scenes from jatras in black and white. These scenes will feature Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartick and Ganesh. Inside the main pandal, a 20-feet circular stage has been built, where live Chhau performances will take place every evening. Sitting around this stage will be musicians playing live jatra music,” said Bhabatosh. “I have used posters, public address systems and chandwas to recreate a real jatra. In our village posters would be put up before shows and announcements would be made over public address systems asking villagers to come to the jatra. Colourful chandwas would cover the roof of the jatra tents,” added the artist.

The stage at the centre of the pandal

The idol has been designed according to the theme. Just like in jatras, the idols will look like shongs (humans dressed as gods and goddesses) of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh, Kartick and the Asura, standing together at the end of a show. Clay models of jatra assistants standing behind the idol will hold the chalchitra. “The idea is to connect man with god. When jatra artistes performed as gods, people believed them to be divine and they would come forward to touch their feet or show their respect for these people. The idols will look like that,” said Sutar.

The lamps used in jatras find place here too

Durga puja is a time for celebration for all and Bhabatosh believes in including people of all classes in the festivities.When I design pandals and themes, I always look for artisans, who belong to economically backward classes, so they get an opportunity to earn a living and get recognition during the festive season. The group of musicians, who will play at the pandal, are jatra musicians. They will come all the way from Katugunge near Kakdweep,” said Sutar. Patachitras are also being used to decorate the insides of the pandal, especially the chalchitra and for this Bhabatosh has brought patachitra artists who are working night and day to complete the work.

Appliqué work on the ceiling of the tent

Uttar Bantra Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee had started planning for their platinum jubilee puja a year in advance with a mega budget in mind. “We had unanimously decided to approach Bhabatosh Sutar to design our pandal this year and we worked towards it from that time. We requested him a few times after which he agreed to come to see the site and the location of the pandal,” said Arpan Dutta, a member of the puja committee.

For Sutar, this is the first time that he ventured into Howrah. He is having to squeeze out time for all four pandals that he is working on this year, including Naktala Udayan Sangha, where he is carving a stone idol, Chetla Agrani, where he is working on towers as theme and Sikdarbagan Sarbajanin in Hatibagan, where the theme is light. Bhabatosh is, however, happy to work in Howrah.

The carriers of the deities

“Although I have never seen Durga puja in Howrah, I feel that pujas in this town are at par with Calcutta. It is a twin city of Calcutta and many artists are also working here during Durga puja. Also, I was very pleased with the members of this puja committee. They are warm and receptive,” said Bhabatosh. With just two days left for the inauguration, the artist and his workers are working round the clock to complete the pandal and idol.

The central chandwa over the stage

For Uttar Bantra Sarbojanin, the budget was a great challenge. “When we had planned to bring Bhabatosh Sutar to our club last year, we told all our club members to start saving Rs 10 per day for this year’s puja. We have about 100 members. Also, we had to ask for extra donations from local residents. However, we did not force anyone. We would request the families to donate double or triple the amount that they usually give other years,” said Arpan. A huge chunk of the donation has come from local businessmen and traders.

Jatra posters painted on canvas decorate the interior of the pandal