Lucknow, Oct 19 From Ayodhya Ram temple to legendary Bengali actor ‘Mahanayak’ Uttam Kumar and from Kolkata’s famous Durga Pujo to rural Bengal and ‘Daaker Saaj’, the themed pandals have virtually transformed Uttar Pradesh’s capital into ‘mini’ Bengal.
The over 100-year-old Bengali Club and Young Men’s Association of Lucknow is celebrating the “mega journey” of legendary actor Uttam Kumar, while Jogendra Pathak Road Puja Committee is showcasing the famous Durga Pujo of Kolkata in their pandal from Maha Shasthi (sixth day of Navratri) to Bijoya Dashami (10th day).
Rabindrapalli Durga Puja Committee’s theme this year is ‘Chirantan Bangla’ (immortal Bengal) and Trans-Gomti Durga Puja Committee’s highlight is ‘Daaker Saaj’ — a traditional silver-white ornamentation style used to decorate Goddess Durga and her family idols during Puja.
President of Bengali Club and Young Men’s Association, Arun Banerjee told PTI, “The year 2026 marks the centenary of iconic actor Uttam Kumar, born as Arun Kumar Chattopadhyay. As Bengal is celebrating 100 years of ‘Mahanayak’, here in Lucknow the Bengali Club is celebrating the actor’s mega journey.”
The entire pandal at Bengali Club is decorated with the thespian’s posters. Banerjee added that superhit songs featuring Uttam Kumar and contemporary actresses such as Suchitra Sen are being played.
Traditional Bengali dress competition for men (clad in dhoti) and women (draped in saree) with cash awards is also a novelty at Bengali Club this year, with awards for the top three winners, Banerjee said.
Jogendra Pathak Road Puja Committee functionary Siddhartha Sanyal told PTI that their pandal is celebrating Durga Pujo of Kolkata.
“In ‘Bonedi Baris’ — the zamindar-style mansions featuring central open courtyards (‘Thaakur Daalaan’) in West Bengal — Goddess Durga along with other Gods and Goddesses are worshipped. The same concept has been showcased in our pandal through painted vinyl sheets depicting the iconic Howrah Bridge, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Hilsa fish and other prominent landmarks of Kolkata,” he said.
Sanyal also said that the 16th Committee of UNESCO for safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in its meeting held on December 15, 2021, in Paris has inscribed Durga Puja in Kolkata on the representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Former president of Rabindrapalli Durga Puja Committee Mihir Banerjee told PTI, “This year’s theme is ‘Chirantan Bangla’ (immortal Bengal). Our unique pandal, built by expert artisans of Kolkata, offers visitors a glimpse of rural Bengal.”
Joyanto Sarkar, general secretary of Trans-Gomti Durga Puja Committee, told PTI, “The highlight of the Puja Committee is ‘Daaker Saaj’ — our humble offering of love to the Divine Mother.”
He said it is more than mere decoration.
“Its shimmering beauty reflects our shared memories, deep-rooted traditions and emotional bonds that bring our community together in devotion to Ma Durga,” Sarkar added.
In a bid to catch the attention of Gen-Z, the Cantonment Puja and Seva Samiti has installed selfie points within the puja pandal premises located in the Usman Road area of Lucknow.
Media secretary of Cantonment Puja and Seva Samiti Nihar Ranjan Dey told PTI, “Gen Z is dominating the internet and social media. We feel this generation should also imbibe devotion towards Gods and Goddesses. The various selfie points at the pandal are meant to attract them to pandals so that they could seek the blessings of the Goddess.”
VK Tiwari, the chief patron of Mitro Sangho (Model House Park) Puja Committee, said that his Puja pandal resembles the Akshardham Temple of Gandhinagar.
The pandal of the Durga Puja held at Pocket-E in Jankipuram resembles the Ram temple of Ayodhya, accompanied by Ram Path and Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, which have emerged as the latest attractions in Ayodhya.
“I haven’t visited the Ram Temple yet, but now, after visiting this puja pandal, we surely plan to visit Ayodhya soon,” said Mamta Shah, a housewife from the old city.
(PTI News)
