Starting on October 3, the country is set to celebrate the 10- day festival of Durga puja with great fervour and enthusiasm. The festival is incomplete without theme based pandals that are conceptualised months in advance. Known for its unique concepts and attractive installations, Rajasthan Mitra Mandal is once set to entice pandal hoppers in Ranchi this festive season.
Celebrating Durga Puja in a grand way since 1979, this year marks the organisation’s 45th year in the festival. While the structure in 2023 showed an imaginary pandal made using cashew nuts, this year the structure is being made using rice bran and straw.
The interiors of the pandal will have Krishsna Leela illustrated through paintings while the deity Banjrangbali will be seen seated outside the pandal. A grand idol of Goddess Durga about 15 feet high and 14 feet wide decorated in ornaments bright as gold will be seated inside the pandal.
“Though the pandal is being made using hay, the structure will be such that even if it rains, water will not penetrate. For the first time, devotees will get to see both Durga Maa and Krishna Leela in one place. Along with the structure, the idol of Goddess Durga will also be eco- friendly as it is being painted using herbal colours,” said Ashok Purohit, president Rajasthan Mitra Mandal.
The construction of the pandal which commenced on August 24 also involves women artisan and is being designed by Tapan Das from Medinipur, West Bengal. The pandal circular in shape will be about 40 feet in diameter and 25 feet in height. The construction is being done at a whooping cost of Rs 15 lakh while anoth Rs 2 lakh are being used for the idols, 1.5 lakh for light and Rs 5 lakh is being estimated for other expenses.
For food lovers, various food stalls serving a variety of delicacies will be put up. The premises will also have a Meena Bazaar and attractive installations for revellers.
