Durga pandals in city focus on eco-friendly celebration this year

THANE: This year, Thaneities have gone the eco-friendly way to celebrate Durga Puja. While some pandals have centred around themes like honouring women, conserving environment, rural livelihood and sharing.
“The idols of Ma Durga are usually made showing her killing Mahishasura. But we have created an idol that reflects Ma Durga in the role of a mother who is void of any hostility.Our theme, which is aamar Durga or my Durga, is a tribute to our mothers, sisters, wives, daughters and the womenfolk in general. It aims at honouring all the women in our life,” said Komal Bhattacharya, secretary of Fulcrum Cultural Foundation.
Dipak Sen-Gupta, president of the New Bengal Club whose eco-friendly pandal at Manpada’s Mullabaug ground is built in the shape of a Babui Pakhir Basha or the nest of baya weaver bird, said, “The entire pandal is in the shape of a nest made of dry leaves, dry grass, coconut trees, supari tree, etc. The idols in our pandal is made out of clay that is found on the banks of the river ganga in Kumartulli.”
Meanwhile, the city’s oldest pandal set up by Bangiya Parishad which has also gone the eco-friendly way have focussed on the celebrations in rural areas of West Bengal. “The theme of our pandal is a dhaner gola or a rural hutment. It is made up of jute, bamboos, hay, chandmala, kadam phool and other such items,” said Sanjay Saha, secretary of Bangiya Parishad, who will be celebrating its 54th year this year.