From Ram temple to Lord Narasimha: Unique Durga Puja pandal themes across India

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Durga Puja celebrations across the country have brought with them a range of creative pandal designs, with organisers drawing inspiration from temples, Hindu mythology and traditional art.

From a replica of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in Siliguri to a pandal based on Lord Narasimha in Varanasi, this year’s celebrations are seeing different themes take shape across cities.

In West Bengal’s Siliguri, a Durga Puja pandal organised by Saktigarh Ujjwal Sangha has caught the attention of devotees and visitors with a replica of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The saffron-coloured structure, standing around 60 feet tall, has become a major attraction for people visiting the pandal during the festival.

The design draws from the Ram Temple, which has become a prominent religious landmark in Ayodhya.

In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, a pandal in the Sigra area has taken inspiration from Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu. The theme depicts the story of Narasimha and his defeat of demon king Hiranyakashipu, a tale from Hindu mythology associated with the victory of good over evil.

Meanwhile, in Odisha, renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik has marked the festival with a distinctive installation at Puri Beach. His artwork dedicated to Maa Durga uses 32 varieties of fruits and vegetables, including 22 vegetables and 10 fruits.

Pattnaik has used the natural produce to create an installation that combines devotion with a message about the beauty of nature. The artist has also encouraged people to think about how natural resources can be used creatively, making the artwork more than a festive tribute to the goddess.

Durga Puja is among the most significant Hindu festivals, celebrated with particular enthusiasm in West Bengal and several other parts of India. The festival marks Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura and symbolises the triumph of good over evil.

The celebrations bring communities together through elaborate pandals, artistic idols, cultural programmes, traditional rituals and devotional music. Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami are among the most important days of the festival.

While the rituals remain central to the celebrations, pandal themes have also become an important part of Durga Puja, with organisers using architecture, mythology and different art forms to create spaces that draw visitors. 

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