Kolkata: The Durga Pujas in South Kolkata, with a mix of theme-based pandals and traditional idols, are gearing up to welcome the Puja revelers, expecting the footfall to increase from Saturday, the day of Saptami.
In fact, with the state government offices declaring holiday from October 3, the pandals have already been witnessing huge crowd right from the day of Chaturthi, which coincided with Gandhi Jayanti. With the Alipore weather office predicting moderate rainfall from Monday (Nabami), people across the city are looking to complete their Puja parikrama by Sunday (Ashtami).
Suruchi Sangha in New Alipore, known as the Puja of state Sports and Youth Affairs minister Aroop Biswas, has adopted the theme of 'Utsav', which delivers the message that people from all sections of the society irrespective of caste, creed, religion or economic background, come together to enjoy the festival.
The pandal has been built along the lines of a 'bonedi bari'. Inside the house there are a number of smaller houses of different sizes, some broken or dilapidated, suggesting that they are residences of the rich, middle-class and poor sections of the society.
Chetla Agrani, known as the Puja of state Urban Development minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, is portraying a picture of old Kolkata and its nostalgia through its theme of 'Kolkata Choliche Norite Norite'. Items of yesteryears and drawings of Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, Birla Planetarium, Cathedral Church and Kalighat temple have decked up the pandal.
Mudiali Club near Rabindra Sarovar lake is wooing pandal-hoppers through its theme of 'Ranger Haat' that depicts the picture of a unique art form through colour changing light and glass paintings. Shibmandir Club, less than 500 metres away from Mudiali, is presenting a picture of stark reality through its theme Bandhan (bonding). It stresses the need of a strong bonding to ward off evil forces.
State Panchayat and Rural Development minister Subrata Mukherjee, the man behind the Puja of Ekdalia Evergreen in Gariahat, is continuing to be a major crowd-puller, thanks to its traditional idol and dazzling lighting arrangements. The pandal of the Puja is a replica of a Shibmandir located at the top of a hill in Shimla.
Tridhara Sammilani, another big-ticket Durga Puja in South Kolkata, is spreading the message of women empowerment through its theme 'Drishtikone' and at the same time, is taking all possible measures to ensure that the entire pandal area is a plastic-free zone.
The Samajsevi Sangha Puja at Lake Road is portraying the life of the daily labourers through its theme and at the same time, has arranged for special amenities for autistic children.
Ballygunge Cultural has adopted the theme of 'Jugalbandi' by recreating legendary characters from literature and celluloid. Feluda-Topshe by Satyajit Roy and Uttam Kumar-Suchitra Sen, the hit Tollywood pair will deck up the pandal.
Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha at Kasba has highlighted the plight of stateless citizens at a time when the apprehension of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is looming large among a section of people in the state.
The added areas in the Southern fringes like Behala and Haridevpur have also come up with attractive themes to woo pandal-hoppers.