Durga Puja in Kolkata has always stood leagues apart from the festivities held in other states—few can compete with the one-of-a-kind themes that range from the past to the present to the future. The festive air in the City of Joy has also raised the competitive spirits of the various committees hosting grand Durga Puja pandals; each theme is more creative and unique than the last, and they truly are a sight for sore eyes. No theme is too outlandish or unconventional for Kolkata’s pandals, and their creativity always leaves visitors in awe.
This year, Durga Puja is being celebrated from September 27 to October 2. As of the 29th, it is the day of Maha Saptami. The general public has already had the chance to witness the various themes since Shashthi, and despite heavy rains flooding the city, footfalls have only continued to rise.
Political statements made through pandals
This year, several pandals have either adopted blatant political themes or offered commentary on the political climate of the country. Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Santosh Mitra Square pandal, which had a theme commemorating Operation Sindoor, on September 26 for its 90th edition of the festival, according to a report by The Hindu. Operation Sindoor was a series of retaliatory cross-border strikes carried out by India against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, J&K, claimed 26 civilian lives.
The pandal is designed to resemble the rolling hills and meadows of Kashmir, with tricolour motifs etched on top. A 3-minute light and sound show depicts the Pahalgam attack and India’s swift retaliation, with model tanks emitting smoke and sound effects. Hired actors reenacted the story of two West Bengal tourists killed in the attack—Bitan Adhikari and Sameer Guha. The pandal has drawn enormous crowds, with huge footfalls at Lebutala, also known as Santosh Mitra Square.
Another politically themed pandal is the one set up by Samaj Sebi Sangha in South Kolkata. With the theme Pather Panchali 1946, it offers a more somber experience compared to the flashier Lebutala pandal. This one commemorates the tragic communal violence of 1946, which still haunts Kolkata to this day, according to a report by The Indian Express. The phrase Pather Panchali, meaning “song of the road,” has been cleverly used to narrate the story of Lake View Road and its residents. The installations honour this historic neighbourhood and highlight how, during times of turmoil, its residents organized community relief and protection efforts. The takeaway here is clear: in times of external pressure, people must choose solidarity over sectarianism, uniting regardless of class, caste, religion, race, or creed.
The Khagra Crematorium Ghat Durga Puja Committee has also caught significant attention both offline and online with its theme of Destruction. Here, Mahishasura has been depicted as former U.S. President Donald Trump, symbolizing India’s ability to eliminate perceived threats to its sovereignty. Similarly, the Khagra Sadhak Narendra Smriti Sangha has portrayed Bangladesh’s chief advisor Mohammad Yunus in the same light, alongside a decapitated head resembling Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, carrying strong nationalistic undertones. Both these pandals are located in Berhampore, Murshidabad.
Pandals honouring the past and the future
Several other pandals chose various themes celebrating India’s past and future. For example, the pandal Arjunpur Amra Sabai Club with the theme “Mukho Mukhi” (Face to Face) exhibits a Durga statue which blends traditional and futuristic elements. The state of Goddess Durga at this venue has been adorned with futuristic-looking stainless steel armour while the entire pandal has been designed as an experiment in blending kinetic art, avant-garde installations and rotating structures with successful results. While others have chosen the theme “Artificial Intelligence”, such as the one in a north Kolkata community club, where images created by ChatGPT took center stage and decorations included gigantic computer keyboards, flashing lights and life-sized robots.
Another pandal paid homage to the iconic 70s movie ‘Sholay’ giving the festivities a distinct retro Bollywood feel. The designers of the pandal have cleverly placed Goddess Durga in ‘Basanti’s tanga’ but replaced the carriage with Goddess’ vahana, the lion. The pandal celebrates India’s rich history in films through Sholay – putting up posters and newspaper clippings as decorations and playing R.D. Burman’s iconic film score throughout the venue. The organizers wanted to bring attention to the loss of single-screen theatres due to the modern movie goers penchant for visiting OTT sites instead.
Then there were other pandals such as Chalta Bagan Lohapatty’s with the theme ‘Mool’ (Roots) and ‘evolution of Bengali language’ which sought to bring attention to the ‘old world charm of north Kolkata’ according to a report by The Federal and featured an installation displaying images of North Kolkata alongside the statue of Goddess Durga. The pandal at Pally 66 is another eye-catching exhibition with a Theyyam-themed statue and artistes who have travelled all the way from Kerala to perform the traditional dance. Theyyam combines music, drama and theatre to honour deities and ancestors and the performances are the primary reason for the increased attention at Pally 66.
Kolkata thus remains unbeaten in the game of ‘Most Creative Pandals’ in India, always coming out on top. Their penchant for creativity and vision surpasses that of any other state and the example is followed throughout the country. From depicting Donald Trump as Mahishasura to using AI as a theme to raise awareness about a shifting world order, nobody is truly doing it like Kolkata.
