Pandal 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 – A walk in Howrah

~ Anantharam Vanchiprakash

After having some heavy lunch, we started on a walking tour. The walking tour was in Howrah. For people who dont know, Howrah and Kolkata are twin cities on two sides of the Hoogly river. Since Kolkata is super crowded during the evenings, we decided to walk on the streets of Howrah to see the local Pandals.

I didnt want to say this but the area we walked in was very bad. It had open gutters all around, dilapidated buildings everwhere, people living in houses which are about to fall, extremely dirty streets making it difficult to even walk. Yet, the people were all in festive mode. Even a small street which hardly has decent houses, was fully lit up and had a Pandal in it. Its very weird how this city celebrates. Its new to me. I am unable to wrap my head around it.

I gave up thinking. That said, we saw a few extremely beautiful Pandals. It was so simple (just blocks with cloth around it) yet was looking so beautiful. Having such a beautifully done Pandal in such a neighbourhood just means that creativity needs no stage.

We ended the walk by visiting the house of a person who was hosting Durga Puja in their house for over 100+ years. Right in front of their house was an open gutter. On top of the open-gutter, they had put a platform and a person was perform live on this Shehnai. It was one of the best reditions of Raag Yaman that I heard in a long time. Again, reinforced, creativity needs no stage. It just flows out wherever you are.

It was a different day for me. A lot of new things. New experiences. Lot of walk. I went with an open mind. I wouldnt say I was entirely happy and seeing the state of the people and their living conditins definitely made me sad. But the creativity that I saw in the art and music was out of the world. It was just too much to process is what I would leave it at.

Pandal 18

Pandal 18 – This is a random Pandal we saw on the way. One thing to notice is all female gods dont have any slippers. All male gods (including Mahishasuran) have nice chappals.. Why this discrimination?

Howrah Streets & Buildings

Tree growing out from the first floor.
Un-livable house. But has lighting done for Durga Puja
Artist sitting on the side of the road, carving the face of gods.
Next set of gods in the making for Kali Puja

Pandal 19 – Small Gully Pandal in Howrah

AI generated image of young Modi like person doing Durga Puja
No proper roads.. But all well lit up for Durga Puja
Pandal 19 – Small gully Pandal in Howrah

These were the houses and the gullys where the Pandal was located
Flower shops in front of falling houses.

Pandal 20 – Postman Memories

Panda 20 – This Pandal was dedicated to a postman
Pandal 20 – The items of the postman like his cycle, telephone etc. displayed

Pandal 21 – Modern Art with Cubes

Pandal 21 – This is just done with bamboo tied as cubes and cloth wrapped around it. But it looks so beautiful.
Pandal 21 – Bull, Durga in a moden form. See how the bamboo cubes are done.
Pandal 21 – Inside the Pandal. Its such as small space but done so well.
Pandal 21 – The whole theme was modern depiction of Durga. Hands protruding out, Buffalo heads on the floor, large eyes everywhere. Just the hands with blood, eyes and buffalo tell the whole story.
Pandal 21 – Durga n Co. in closeup.
Pandal 21 – The Nandi is also looking so good with really well done painting.
Pandal 21 – This is where the Pandal was. Extremely narrow road (15 feed may be) and the it was sandwiched b/w two old buildings.

Pandal 22 – House Pandal/Puja

This is the place where the person was performing Shehnai. Its a platform made on an open gutter on the side of the road. Vehicles just pass on that road honking.
Pandal 22 – The artist is playing Raag Yaman. People don’t even care, driving right past him, stopping next to him, honking. In spite of all of it, he is unperturbed. Its a world where its him and his music alone.
Pandal 22 – Puja inside the house.
Pandal 22 – Puja Inside the house

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Published by Anantharam Vanchiprakash

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