BHUBANESWAR: Preparations for Durga Puja celebrations has started and several associations and committees have begun laying the groundwork for themed pandals in the city. As many as 178 Durga Puja pandals will come up in the capital city this year, which is six more than the last year.
Every year, Durga Puja committees put in their best efforts to beautify their pandals. To stand out among others, the Rasulgarh committee, in the 26th year of organising Durga Puja in city, is creating a model of London’s Royal Albert Hall this time.
Pradeep Barisal, president of Rasulgarh Durga Puja Committee, said, “We are creating the pandal using colour stones.” The 80 by 120 ft pandal will be completed two days before the Sasthi, he said.
The original Royal Albert Hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, has been holding prom concerts annually each summer since 1941. It has a capacity of over 5,000 seats.
“For the last few years we have been creating pandals by using waste materials such as bangles, glass and steel among others. This year more than 40 artisans are working at the pandal, which is going to cost around Rs 35 lakh,” Barisal said. Tapas Swain is the head of the artist group creating the pandal and idol.
In 2017, the committee had created a hill station themed pandal for which they replicated a mountain with a railway line and a train passing through the hilly area. Natural plants were used to give it a feel of wildlife and sculpted birds were fixed on the artificial mountain.
In 2016, replica of a glass palace made of bangles, glasses and mirrors was put up and the year before that, a wooden pandal modeled on a Siva shrine was set up.
Pradeep said, “This year, due to government ban on plastic use, we had spread the message among our coordinators, sellers and shopkeepers to avoid using plastic.” On traffic and security, Pradeep said that the parking facility in the Rasulgarh area is best in the capital. This prompts visitors of other pandals to park their vehicles here. Besides, 30 CCTV cameras will be installed and 100 security guards will be deployed in the area.”
To entertain visitors, the organisers have roped in melody artists from Cuttack who will perform every day till Dashami.