This was a Pandal which has live theatre, music along with art. Usual Pandals are art installations with music that is in sync with the installation theme. Sometimes there is live music (like a band singing etc.)
This was different. The theme is this Pandal was Ramayan and there were live theatre artists who were performing within the Pandal. It was quite crowded as it was in the evening.
The Pandal had stories from the Ramayan and there was a live dance performance depicting the fight b/w Ravan and Jatayu. It was very well rehearsed and was a quick interesting and watch.
One interesting fact about the Durga. You can see a few things peculiar in this Durga.
- She is not as fierce. In fact having a smiling, cartoonish face.
- Fully in white color.
- The lion looks like a horse with sharp teeth. Bengalis call it Ghotoke-Mukhi Singha (Horse faced lion).
- There is no blood or anything fierce.
On some research I think this is because of the Vaishnav Rituals some families follow. There are two broad kind of traditions. Shakta Tradition where they depict fierce Durga with blood and fierce lion. Another is Vaishnava Tradition (which leans towards non-violence) don’t show blood, keep it white, serene with horse shaped lion. This Durga is depicted of that tradition IMO. That’s why the lion has a horse face.
Comment below if you have another story on this.
There is another story for horse faced lion. Will tell it on the story for another Pandal.
