Innovative eco-friendly themes are set to welcome devotees at prominent pandals across the city
On the occasion of Durga Puja, the Co-operative Ground Durga Puja Samiti prepares to host its yearly themed celebration, which will utilise recycled and eco-friendly products, at the Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Co-operative Puja Ground in Chittaranjan Park.
This year the pandal has chosen to depict Panchabhuta, the five elements: Earth (Prithvi), Water (Jal), Fire (Agni), Air (Vayu) and Ether (Akasha), through a creative endeavour using eco-friendly materials such as wooden planks, plyboard, jute ropes, bamboo, coconut shells, clay and butter paper.
Designs on the panel have been created with inspiration from the Gond art style – an Adhivasi art form that reflects across six Indian states. This tribal community strongly believes in astronomy and their paintings reflect celestial culmination and the significance of Panchabhuta.
“All materials that we will use are eco-friendly, including the plates used to serve prasad,” said Utpal Dey, President of Co-operative Ground Durga Puja Samiti.
To mark its 51st Durga Puja celebration, Matri Mandir Sarbojanin Durga Puja Samiti will showcase success stories of legendary Indian women in various fields at its pandal in Safdarjung Enclave including Saint Teresa, Kalpana Chawla, Mary Kom to name a few. The Samiti has decided to do away with plastic plates and will use cups and plates made out of betel nut leaves.
Historical journey
The first Sarbojanin Durga Puja in Delhi was celebrated in Timarpur in 1909; It was discontinued after a couple of years and then started again.
Regarded as the oldest Puja in Delhi NCR, the Kashmere Gate Puja started in 1910 and continues.
Breaking records
Theme based pandals started cropping up after a record was set for building a replica of a cave resembling the Kedarnath accompanied by a waterfall as high as 60 feet and a Durga Puja idol at the 24 feet, which was built in 2004. This record of being the tallest idol in Delhi stands till date.
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