If you are missing out on the mythological theme and characters of Mahabharata in the 21st century then your desires will be fulfilled by Tuesday. The Railway Station Durga Puja Committee is making a replica of Mahabharata theme wherein Maa Durga and her family will be seen watching the entire scene as royal spectators.
“Entrance of the Pandal will give you the feeling of Hastinapur wherein the great war of Mahabharata took place. Also, you will find statue made couples representing Dhritarashtra and Gandhari along with Arjun and Draupadi. Before that, Saint Vyas will be seen narrating the Mahabharata to lord Ganesha who noted the entire story. The gambling scene between Kaurava and Pandava wherein the latter lost and had to sacrifice Draupadi for Vastraharan (forcibly undress) will be shown,” Committee’s president Munchun Rai said.
“After crossing the bridge, the Warfield where lord Krishna read Geeta in a chariot while Arjun bend to listen it will be shown surrounded by soldiers, elephants and horses. Krishna taking the shape of a grand Vishnu Avtar will be placed above Maa Durga’s Cave like pandal. We are designing Maa Durga and her children as spectators watching the moments inside a palace formed under a cave,” Vice-President Rakesh Kumar Singh said.
Interestingly, to give the war field a real ambience, around 5,000 feet grass will be placed here. “We are using three lakh lighting effects including spot lights, tube lights, lED lights and bar lights to give the feel of real life across the pandal. It will not only attract children but other age groups also,” member Ravi Singh said.
As many as 55 labourers of Midnapore district are working on developing the concept day and night within a budget of Rs 25 lakh for past two months. The members are dependent on fibers, plywood and paints. “Most of the statues like elephants, horses, soldiers, Saint Vyas, lord Ganesha, lord Krishna and Arjuna were made at Midnapore as it was not possible for us to build all at one place. We hope to get the first position in pandal making this year too,” Rai added.
In 1990’s when Mahabharata was broadcasted on Doordarshan a fictitious character named ‘Time’ would brief the story in the initial seconds of the programme. Organizers have ensured the involvement of such a character also.
Auto Drivers of the railway station seem eager to see the final pandal structure. “Even in Durga Puja we rarely get time to visit other durga puja pandals. It is a good initiative that Railway Puja Committee members are displaying unique puja pandals in the recent years. We can atleast get the scope of watching the Best Pandal of the City,” said an auto driver.