On one side where all city pandals have idols of Maa Durga and her female children dressed in sarees, Netaji Nagar Durga Puja Committee at Kantatoli is representing the same in ghagra-choli. lord Ganesha and lord Vishwakarma are wearing dhoti like idols of other pandals but it is different with a printed form visible only in Rajasthan.
Interestingly, the committee members have tried to give a touch of Rajasthan in their pandal as well. “We always focus more in our idols than the pandal layout. Usually, it takes a month to complete the idol work. But, it took our artisan Ajoy Pal two months to complete the construction of idols since it is based on Rajasthani theme. Maa Durga, Maa Saraswati and Maa lakshmi are holding small pots like that carried by local women of the particular state. lord Ganesha is beating drums and Vishwakarma is playing flute,” committee vice-president Sanjay Chakraborty said.
The committee marking 57 years of organizing Durga Puja this year were betrayed by three groups of artists for the pandal set up till the first week of September. “Since our pandal is an imaginary concept, we were initially doubtful on whether our pandal would be created or not. Three local groups of artisans denied at the eleventh hour. Finally, we approached 15 artisans from Asansol who painted various portraits of Rajasthani lifestyle on thermacol sheets besides finishing the pandal look,” another vice-president Pradip Dutta said.
Around `11 lakh has been utilized for the pandal and idol making. Notably, every year Netaji Nagar Committee is appreciated for its unique idol. “I always visit this pandal to watch the beauty of Maa Durga idols. Even, my relatives prefer to visit here before going through pandals at Hinoo, Railway Station, Bihar Club, Bakri Bazaar, Satya Amar lok or Durga Bati,” former head of Ranchi Women’s College Bengali department Dr Sipra Bhattacharya said.
However, committee members pointed out on rare support provided by Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) during the puja. “Our volunteers are assigned to ensure the sanitation and hygiene within the pandal from Shoshti to Dashami as RMC waste collectors turn blind to most of the dumped wastes areas here,” said a member. The pandal is located near the Khadgada Bus Stand creating more chances of waste gathering.
Interestingly, the pandal has least chances of damaging due to heavy rainfall or storm. Chakraborty said, “Most of the portion of our pandal is under the committee’s building entrance made of brick and cement. There are adequate toilet facilities also in the building especially for women and children.”