Sreebhumi set to woo pandal-hoppers yet again

Kolkata: The transformation of Indian architecture right from the days of the Mughal period to the contemporary time will come alive through the pandal and décor of Sreebhumi Sporting Club's Durga Puja this year.

This Durga Puja in Lake Town has always been a prime attraction for the pandal-hoppers, as it churns out something innovative through its pandal and ambience, while sticking to traditional or sabeki Durga idol, every year.

"Indian architecture had reached its pinnacle during the Mughal rule but there has been a lot of transformation with the progress of time. We will depict this change in Indian art and architectural form through our own thinking process. There will be intricate work with fibre and ply inside and outside the pandal, which will surely attract the visitors," said state Fire and Emergency Services minister Sujit Bose, who is the president of the club.

Special lighting arrangements in tune with the decoration of the pandal will be made by a famous light artiste from Chandannagore, Hooghly. The Durga idol, which is being made by idol maker Pradip Rudra Paul from Kumartuli, will be adorned with Sabeki-style ornaments. The marble floor of the pandal will also be a special feature.

"This is the first time we are making a theme song. Singers like Gurjeet, Snigdhajit and Dipanwita have lent voices to the theme song composed by Goutam Das. The video version of the song will feature Bengali actor Nusrat and some other known faces from Tollywood," Bose said.

The theme song and the video will be released on September 19, while the pandal will be inaugurated on September 29.

The minister said that there will be water counters, medical units and toilet blocks near the pandal and CCTV surveillance to ensure safety and security of the pandal-hoppers.

"We will have dedicated counters from where prasad will be distributed among people after the Puja on all four days. Bhog will be prepared on the day of Astami for 10,000 people," he added.