The Durga Puja Pandal themes in 2007 in Kolkata have garnered worldwide attraction thanks to the
Durga Puja Harry Potter Pandal controversy. Traditionalists scoff at the Durga Puja theme but major puja committees in Kolkata compete against each other to attract the maximum crowd. The healthy competition among the Puja Pandals create a treat for the eye to see something totally unexpected; at times some forgotten page from India’s history and other times touching some burning issues.
There are no criteria for this list. It is purely based on unique themes and that are attracting attention of people and media.
The Durga Puja pandal at F.D. Block in Salt Lake based on the Hogwarts Castle pandal, replica of Harry Potter's school of magic, has already become famous and popular due to the 2 million rupees copyright infringement case. This Pandal is being discussed around the world and is sure attract a large crowd.
- The Suruchi Sangha Puja in New Alipore is based on Gujarat’s famous Bhunga houses (traditional Kutch houses) which withstood the devastating earthquake. Vibrant colors, Hodka designs from Banni area and various other art forms of Gujarat are the other attraction in this pandal. There will also be workshops on various art forms of Gujarat.
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Putiary Sarbojanin Durgotsav is based on tribal theme and is modeled on a tribal village in Bankura District. Highlight here is the use of thousands of flutes and the entry into the Pandal is through a 42-ft-long flute.
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The Sahapur Sarbjanin Durga Puja Pandal is noted for its aesthetic use of bamboo to present its theme which is women’s empowerment.
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Indus valley civilization is the theme of United Club at Putiary. The pandal provides a sneak peek into the Mohenjedaro and Harappa civilization.
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Paschim Putiary Unnayani Sangha has used Patachitras of Bengal and Orissa as its theme. Patachitra painting is one of the earliest forms of indigenous paintings.
Steel and more steel is what one gets to see at the pandal of Pally Unnayan Samiti. Even the idol here also made of steel.
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Inca civilization of
Latin America is the theme of 41 Palli Sarbojanin Durgotsav in Haridevpur and they have also used the opportunity to create awareness about Global Warming.
- The Durga Puja Pandal in Selimpur in South Kolkata has recreated the Hindu and Buddhist temples of Java. The images of the temples have been recreated by noted painter Jogen Chowdhury. It is a journey back into time with some insight into the spread of Hindu and Buddhist culture in Southeast Asia.
- Egyptian civilization comes alive at the Durga Puja Pandal in Ramgarh Jaishrinagar, Dakshineswar. The world famous Egyptian Pyramids have been recreated here using jute and paper.
- The Durga Puja Pandal of the Pallimangal Samiti of Santoshpur Avenue is based on the Navarasa theme. The pandal is divided into nine sections and each section depicts a mood of Goddess Durga.
- Sarbojanin Durgotsav committee’s Pandal in Alipore is themed on poet Jibanananda Das’s ‘Rupasi Bangla.’ Illustrations based on poems in ‘Rupasi Bangala’ and rural Bengal are the major highlight here. Folk music and rural songs are the other attractions.
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Coconut Tree is the theme of the Durga Puja Pandal of Balak Sangha, on Motilal Nehru Road. But the pandal has a slogan which reads ‘Agriculture versus industry, or agriculture-based industry?’ The pandals shows the commercial value of the components of a coconut tree. The idol here is also made from the coconut tree and is covered with leaves.
The list will be expanded with more unique pandals.
