Kolkata Durga Puja pandal revives T20 WC

Kolkata, Oct 21: Known for its magnificent illuminations on innovative themes, the College Square Puja Pandal in Kolkata has been a big draw for cricket lovers during the Durga Puja festival this year. Team India"s win over Australia in a Twenty20 match on Saturday just made it more meaningful.

The popular College Square Puja Pandal or makeshift temple, often referred as Kolkata's Chandannagore, showcased some memorable moments of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup held in South Africa recently in September as part of its theme “Dangerous Sports" during Durga Puja.

Devotees, who visited various community Pandals during Durga Puja, cherished the opportunity to revisit the joyous moments of Team India depicted through a fascinating display of decorative lights here.

Visitors had a gala time enjoying the lightening innings of cricketer Yuvraj Singh re-enacted in lights. It thrilled the onlooker, as the blustering batsman hit six after six and the umpire raises his hands above head; signalling the maximum score, as was displayed amidst various colourful lights.

"This time in College Square, the theme is dangerous sports. In these sports, they have shown horse riding and bull fighting through lighting and lot of other works of lighting which are worth watching," said Abhijit Pal, another pandal hopper.

As most of the public had a visual pleasure on TV sets in drawing rooms recently, the re-enactment of those unforgettable moments during Durga Puja added a distinct joy to the Kolkattans.

"The theme is very beautiful and the lighting is very innovative and creative. I can also see the sixes here…it"s very good to see," said Konica Pal, a pandal hopper.

Besides the “Dangerous Sports" theme included various other sports, all depicted in colourful light effects. The adventure sports include sky-diving and other events testing human skills and endurance like horse-riding, speed boating. Another attraction was a colourful display of Spanish 'sport' of Bull Fighting by the matadors.

Every work of lighting at the Pandal looked a treat for the eyes because of its influence and appeal among youngsters and elders. The reflection of a South Indian temple created in the Pandal in a swimming pool at the venue was awesome, as was evident from the reaction of the visitors.

"This year, I have come here to College Square. The lighting here is very famous and children enjoy it very much because they display different themes. Eiffel Tower, birds and especially the reflection in water, looks very beautiful," said Koel Sarkar, another visitor to the pandal.

The attempt was a part of a sort of annual competition that enjoyed by thousands of puja pandal groups here. These groups, participating in the Durga Puja festivities, come up with innovative ideas and themes to entice maximum devotees.

Fifty expert artisans from Chandannagore were used to do the light-works. They were helped by another 110 workers of Shantipur from Ranaghat. It cost rupees 2.3 million to the organisers of the Puja pandal of College Square.

ANI
>