Howrah puja to play host to 35-feet long Durga idol

Kolkata: The tallest idol of Goddess Durga in South Kolkata had grabbed eyeballs a couple of years ago. But a large section of pandal hoppers did not get opportunity to get a glimpse of it for different reasons.

This year, pandal hoppers can witness quite a similar Puja mandap. They just need to go across river Hooghly at Golabari in Howrah where Ghasbagan Sporting Club's Puja mandap is itself a 35-feet tall Durga idol.

Artisans from Midnapore were found busy giving shape to the huge structure. Though they are facing difficulties due to rain, they are confident to complete the entire mandap at least three to four days ahead of Saptami.

The artisans were found using bamboo, thermocol, plywood and a special type of paper for construction. With continuous rainfall, artisans have set up a small makeshift structure where they are carrying out the work. Two separate sets of workers are working to complete the interior and the exterior of the Puja mandap. They are working almost round the clock to complete

their work.

The basic structure made of bamboos is ready and the artisans have fixed plywood on it in the shape of chalchitra. The idol of Goddess Durga and her entourage made out of thermocol will be placed on the structure like chalchitra.

Naba Durga is worshipped in the mandap of Ghasbagan Sportings Club. Every year thousands of people turn up at the Puja mandap. The Puja organisers feel that more number of people will visit their mandap to get a glimpse of the 35-feet-tall

Durga idol.

Anil Singh, secretary of the Durga Puja, said: "We are following all norms to set up the Puja mandap and expecting that more people will visit here."