Bengaluru pandals prep up for this year’s Durga Puja

Bengaluru celebrates Durga Puja with a blend of faith, community & creativity. Pandals feature intricate craftsmanship of Bengal artisans & traditional rituals. BARSHA's theme is "Greek Elegance" & R.T. Nagar's is "Melbandhaner Anginay" (amalgamation of cultures). BinB & EBCA promote local craftsmanship. Live music performances by famous artists from Bengal & Bangladesh. Puja brings together people from different communities. #Bengaluru #DurgaPuja #Faith #Community #Creativity #Artisans #Rituals #Culture #LiveMusic #Performances #DifferentCommunities

It’s that time of the year again when the city decks up to welcome Maa Durga. A festival deeply rooted in Bengal’s cultural tapestry has now evolved into a fanfare for people cutting across geographical boundaries. Pandals of Bengaluru have become a testament to the intricate craftsmanship of Bengal artisans combined with traditional rituals, making Durga Puja a blend of faith, community, and creativity.

With the growing number of Bengalis living in Bengaluru now, the city has a hundred-plus registered Durga Puja pandals.

The Bengali Association for the Residents of Sarjapur and HSR-layout Area (BARSHA) started its journey in 2016. There was just a small puja then. Now in its eighth year, it organises one of the biggest pujas in the city. BARSHA’s theme this year is “Greek Elegance”, on which local and Kolkata artists have worked together.

“The work of our idol started six months back in Kolkata. The saaj (ornamentation) of Maa Durga is being handcrafted by the descendants of the artisans from Krishnanagar in West Bengal, who are famous as the best idol makers for generations. The pandal is also a testament to the craftsmanship of Karnataka’s own artisans,” said Priyanka Sinha Roy, media and publicity head for BARSHA.

R.T. Nagar Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samiti is set to celebrate the 17th year of their puja in Princess Green, Gate 9 of Palace Grounds, with the theme Melbandhaner Anginay’,which translates to an amalgamation of different cultures coming together.

“This year, the face of Devi is detailed by the artisans of Kumartuli, Kolkata. Artists and technicians from Chandan Nagar, West Bengal, will embellish this creation with lights,” says Sanjay Bhattacharjee, chief secretary of R.T. Nagar Puja.

Bengali in Bangalore (BinB), which will organise its 13th edition of Durga Puja this year at Kalyani Kala Mandir, started as an online community and now has a strong base of members. A BinB spokesperson told The Hindu, “Over the years, we have an active participation of people from other non-Bengali communities, cutting across cultural barrier.”