Nabanna to be pandal theme for Puja committee in Howrah

Kolkata: Nabanna, the state secretariat, is the theme this year for a Puja pandal at Salkia in Howrah.

It was October 5, 2013, when the state secretariat was shifted to the 14-storeyed building at 325, Sarat Chatterjee Road in Central Howrah. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was the one who named it Nabanna. The building houses offices of the Chief Minister.

In the past eight years, Sarat Chatterjee Road has gained special significance with the presence of the state secretariat. Now, a Puja committee at Salkia in Howrah has finalised Nabanna as the theme of the pandal.

Howrah 6-er Palli comes up with unique ideas as themes every year to construct their pandals. This year, members of the Puja committee are expecting a high turnout of people at the pandal as the theme is Nabanna.

The attempt will be to make the pandal in such a way that it looks exactly like the state secretariat building, which is painted in blue and white. The work to construct the same on an area of around 1,000 square feet at Nilmani Mukherjee Road in Salkia has started two weeks ago and is going on in full swing to complete it as early as possible.

The Puja organisers are leaving no stones unturned to create an ambience around the pandal that will give a realistic feel to the visitors.

Ashoke Mitra, secretary of the Puja committee, said: "This year we are celebrating the 54th year of our Puja. In our 52nd year, the century-old building that houses the headquarters of Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC), was the theme. After two years, we are going to present another unique pandal."

Though the pandal will look exactly like Nabanna, all norms will be followed in terms of its height and will not cross the sanctioned limit.

Rakhal Pal of Kumartuli is making the idols of Goddess Durga and her entourage for the Puja committee. The idols will be brought to the pandal on October 9. The lighting arrangement will also be made keeping parity with the theme.