-Pratap Kumar Das.
Its festive time folks!! Maa Durga has arrived
in town and the most glorified festival in eastern India deserves to be
celebrated in full fluorish and fervor. Durga Pujo or Navratri holds different
values and traditions for various communities but one thing that remains
constant is that the main 4 days – Shaptami,
Ashtami, Navami and Dashami are
synonymous with shopping, pandal hopping and doi-mishti with gorom gorom jilaapis. Near home,
everybody knows that there are many pujas in and around Guwahati. We took a
ride out on the night of MahaShasti around the city and present to you our top
picks for this year’s Pujo. Make sure to visit as many of them as you can this
festive season.
1. Bishnupur High School,
Bishnupur
The 82-feet high monument of Durga Maa
steals the show this year. Bishnupur puja committee has come up every year with
refreshing themes for the Pujo, and this year is no surprise either. This
year’s theme is about ‘Drug abuse’ and the internal structure depicts the
internal structures of a human body. Men of natural sciences and medicine, you
just can’t miss this.
2. Rest Camp Kalibari, Pandu
The rest camp puja is an evergreen hit. People from all
round the town have this puja on the top of their wishlist. This time too the
committee has come up with a humongous pandal which has the sheen of gold-cover
from top to bottom. The pratima is gorgeous and you will be swoon in its
beauty.
3. Sluice Gate, Shantipur
The puja here has garnered
great attention in the last few years and the organizing committee haven’t let
the guard down. This time too the pandal stands tall in great grandeur and
glory. The pratima here was our pick for ‘Best Pratima’.
4. Athgaon, below the Fly-over
If
there was an award for amazing theme, Athgaon Puja Samiti would have nailed it.
The pandal is a replica of Cellular Jail and as you step inside you will see
figures of jail inmates and jailors. On a closer look you will shockingly
discover that these are infact real people. How’s that! The pratima here is a
little different from traditional ones. Do try to check it out.
5. Latasil
Khel Pothar
The
pandal here is grand and overall atmosphere is lively. It’s a puja greeted by
large hordes of people. The pandal exterior has a unique look and the pratima
is equally beautiful.
6. Geetanagar field, Geetanagar
The
pandal resembles a great cave and inside stands Durga Maa with her children.
Lots of food stalls up this year round and the background music chants are
really soothing.
7. Lakhi
Mandir, Beltola
One
look at the pandal of Lakhi Mandir and you would think it’s a heritage site and
the figurines and cut out on stone. This oldy-looking pandal did amaze us and
the pratima inside lives upto the hype. This time they have focused on ‘Traffic
Accidents’ as the theme and the electronic depictions would surely amuse you.
8. 7 No. Railway gate, Phulbagan
This locality as always has been renowned for its exquisite lighting and this time too it
doesn’t disappoint us. The traditional Durga pratima here reiterates the fact
that simple is beautiful.
9. Nayanpur, Hengerabari Puja
The
gigantic Ganesh stands up tall and as you look up to it, it sprinkles water all
over you with its long trunk. Period. Enter inside, the pratima resides in the
customary place showering blessings on one and all.
10. B.
K. Tower Puja, Ganeshguri
We
were round the corner and thought of a quick peek-a-boo here. It’s a small puja
as compared to others in the list but the ambient atmos here will keep you jolly
throughout.
So these were our top picks in this year’s
Puja. We may have missed some of the Pujas which could have easily made it to
the list. Some of the other Pujos that you can surely check out are Powerhouse,
Kahilipara (where they have created a huge Rhino as the pandal) ; American
Colony, Pandu; Silpukhuri; Bamunimaidam Rail Colony, Kalibari.
If you have any other suggestions, feel
free to comment and share your views.
No comments:
Post a Comment