Chandrayaan-themed Ganesh pandals steal the spotlight in Kolkata

Kolkata: With just two days left until the much-awaited Ganesh Puja in Kolkata, artisans across the city are racing against the clock to add the final touches to their magnificent idols.

The trend of organising Ganesh Pujas has been steadily growing in Kolkata over the years, and theme-based celebrations have taken centre stage. This year, one of the most captivating themes is India's triumphant Chandrayaan-3 mission to the moon.

In Salt Lake's BB Block, the Sree Sree Ganesh Chaturthi Mahotsav has unveiled an awe-inspiring pandal featuring a model of the Chandrayaan rocket atop its structure. Inside, a resplendent Ganesh idol takes centre stage, set against a backdrop that showcases the moon's surface, with the Earth gently glowing in the distance. Notably, images of the lander Vikram and rover Pragyan adorn the background, creating the illusion that Lord Ganesh is seated regally on the moon's surface.

Anindya Chatterjee, the committee president, shared that a voiceover commentary will periodically recount the thrilling countdown of Chandrayaan's voyage to the moon through the public address system. To make the experience even more authentic, smoke will emanate from the rocket's thrusters, enhancing the feeling of being part of the lunar journey. The theme for this celebration is 'Pari Dite Pari' (we can undertake the voyage).

This venerable committee, organising Ganesh festivals for the past 14 years, is celebrated as the oldest in the satellite township. "This year, our Ganesh puja is dedicated to team ISRO that successfully launched and guided Chandrayaan-3 to land near the south pole of the moon on August 23," emphasised Chatterjee.

Not far away, near VIP Road in Baguiati, another puja committee has chosen to highlight ISRO's incredible achievement through their Ganesh puja pandal. At the Executive Palace complex in the city's northeastern fringes, a five-foot-tall idol takes the spotlight, featuring images of the lunar surface and Indian flags planted on the moon's terrain. Adjacent to the idol, models of the rocket and the lander Vikram will be prominently displayed. The pandal will also feature images of stars and planets as they appear at night, illuminated by blue LED lamps with multimedia projections of the moon.

Ankit Agarwal, an organiser of the puja, shared, "On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, we will pay our tributes to ISRO. Our theme will be Chandrayaan-3 as the mission is a historic achievement for India."

While some pandals pay homage to scientific achievements, others stick to traditional themes. For instance, the organisers of Parnasree Pally Ganesh Puja in south Kolkata have opted for a traditional pandal and idol, as explained by Joydip Raha, a committee member.

Abhishek Das, a member of the Muraripukur Ganesh Puja Committee in North Kolkata, conveyed that they are celebrating the puja on a grand scale but have not chosen a specific theme this year.

In a unique twist, a Puja committee in the Baishakhi area of Salt Lake has constructed a replica of the renowned Karni Mata Mandir in Rajasthan's Bikaner, famously inhabited by thousands of rats. Inside the marquee, two idols grace the pandal, Lord Ganesh and Lord Vishnu. Anita Mondal, one of the organisers of the puja, noted, "While Ganesh is the god of prosperity, Vishnu is the saviour. We are praying to both to give us prosperity and save us from various negative forces around us."