During Shardiya Navratri, Goddess Durga is worshipped with great fervour in the City. Among the different puja pandals being built in Ranchi for the festival, one such is the Harmu Panch Mandir puja pandal which is all set to spell bound revellers this festive season.
From creating a replica of Somanth Temple to a facsimile of a Buddhist Temple in Sikkim in the past, this time the Harmu Panch Mandir puja pandal in its 52nd year of celebrating the festival is based on an imaginary theme called ‘Raunger Khela’ or the combination of ccolours.
The structure is built using materials like fiber sheet, cloth, glass, wood and thermocol while the main attraction of the pandal this season will be the lighting installations. The pandal is about 55 feet tall, 70 feet broad and 60 feet in depth and is being primed at a whooping cost of Rs 46 lakh.
The idol of Goddess Durga will be seen adorned in traditional Begal culture. The statue of the Goddess will be a towering 8 feet tall one while that of the other will be about six and a half feet in height and the centre dais is about 25 feet broad.
“The statue of Mahishasuramardini Maa Durga will be very special for its lifelike form. The structure is being made using fiber and the lighting arrangement done on it this year is very different from what is usually seen and will be extremely attractive at night which is also going to pull pandal hoppers to this venue,” said Manoj Kumar, president Harmu Panch Mandir Durga Puja Committee.
The pandal is being designed by artists from Kolkata with the consultation of committee member Amitabh Mukherjee and the idols have been sculpted by Ranchi based sculptor Ajay Pal. The pandal will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on the evening of Panchami- October 7.
Offerings of khichdi and kheer will be made to the deities on Mahanavmi which will later be distributed amongst the worshippers present from about 10:30 am and will continue till around 4 pm. The pandal also offers VIP packets of the prasad at a price of Rs 501.
CCTV cameras have been installed to ensure the safety of all visitors while volunteers will also be present at the premises. A variety of food stalls along with swings at ‘Fun Zone’ for children and adults have also been installed.
