10 October 2024, 3 minutes min read
Durga Puja in Bengal has grown over the years from religious celebrations to an explosion of creativity, with artists playing a key role in shaping the spectacle. These artists who design the elaborate pandals bring their own stories, inspirations and messages into their work.
Several artists who explain how the art of Durga Puja has evolved over the years, the inspirations behind their creations, and how the Puja industry supports hundreds of families.
Moloy Roy, 48, from Amherst Street, was a graphic designer. He switched to pandal designing in 2015, driven by an interest in the craft. His work this year is on display at the Rajdanga Naboday Sangha, Hindustan Park and Ultadanga Bidhan Sangha.
“Durga Puja has changed drastically. When I used to go out for pandal hopping with my father there were just plain pandals made of bamboo and cloth and fewer women out at night; now it is entirely different. Prizes have been introduced. Now it is so competitive with big budgets. Material-based pandals are also a reality,” Roy says.
Rintu Das, 50, from Ruby, is an Arts College alumnus. He has been designing Durga Puja pandals and deciding themes since 2013. With a background in western painting, Rintu’s designs at Naktala Udayan Sangha and Kashi Bose Lane this year are filled with social messages.
At Kashi Bose Lane, the theme this year is Ratnagarbha, where Rintu portrays the womb as a source of power; at Naktala Udayan Sangha, Rintu puts the spotlight on the breakdown of joint families.
Anirban Das, 45, from Dumdum Park, has been ideating Durga Puja pandals for over 20 years. This year, he has designed six pandals, including Dumdum Park Tarun Sangha and Ahiritola Sarbojanin.
“I do Puja at my home every day and not a single day goes by when I do not worship Her. It is an addiction. Durga Puja in Kolkata is a journey that has always been moving in a forward direction. There is so much focus on performing arts, video projections; it is no more about mere light installations,” Das says.
Read more at: The Telegraph
