Durga Puja is an exquisite Indian festival and tradition that celebrates the Devi in all her glory. The festival days are filled with echoes of devotional music, vivid colours, and incense-filled aromas, where women and men dressed in traditional attire make their way towards the pandals for Pujo.
The pandals themselves are a sight to behold with their impressive themes executed with skillful artistry. Each pandal hosts a theme that strives to provide a message to the masses and raise awareness about various social issues that are pressing concerns in today’s day and age.
Catch these awe-inspiring Durga Puja pandals and enjoy the celebration through the Vi app where you can watch pandals live. Use the Vi app now and start streaming the latest from the Durga Puja festivities.
Here are 5 such Durga Puja pandal themes that etched their magic on this auspicious occasion, bringing art and culture to the celebrations.
1) Parichay – An Identity for the Ladies of the Night
Durga Puja is a day dedicated to the Devi and the victory of Goddess Durga over the Asura, Mahishasura. On this day, we celebrate all aspects of femininity and feminine energy through prayers, festivities, and pandals.
This year, the Nawpara Dadabhai Sangh Puja Committee in Kolkata has set their Durga Puja pandal theme as “Parichay,” which translates to “Identity.” This theme is said to honour the sex workers in the country, who are an aspect of femininity that deserves just as much attention as any of the other feminine forms.
The pandal aims to shine a light on their daily lives, thereby inspiring change in how society treats them. This approach hopes to break the boundaries that the public sets for sex workers. The committee believed that the best way to make this happen was through the magic of Durga Puja festivities that showcase their worth and value as human beings first.
2) Bengal Talkies – 100 Years of Bengali Cinema
For Durga Puja in 2019, the Prantik Cultural Society in Indirapuram, Delhi, decided on the “Bengal Talkies” theme to celebrate the 100-year journey of Bengali cinema.
They put together this theme in a grand fashion by commissioning various artists from Kolkata for the pandal along with flexes, wooden structures, hand-painted posters of popular Bengali movies, and photos of all the prominent filmmakers, singers, actors, and music directors who brought life to Bengali cinema.
The organizers went above and beyond to create the complete retro experience with an old-fashioned 16mm film projector that played all the Bengali classics in a single-screen theatre created just for “Bengal Talkies.” The entire pandal showcased the craftsmanship of Kolkata-based pandal makers. It also exhibited the vibrancy of Bengali cinema to the residents of Delhi, from showing the first Bengali film, Bilwamangal, to the subsequent journey of Bengali cinema.
3) Transgender Rights – A Space for the Transgender Community
In 2018, the Supreme Court in India decriminalised same-sex relations between adults and struck down Section 377, to the joy of the LGBTQ community.
And to celebrate this momentous decision, South Kolkata saw the rise of Durga Puja pandals that took up transgender rights as their theme. The pandals highlighted the trials faced by homosexuals and transgenders through expressive art, music, and imagery describing the challenges they face when mingling with society.
Maa Durga is all about welcoming each one of her children, whoever they are or whoever they love. And by bringing awareness to the struggles that transgenders and homosexuals face, the architects of the events hope to inspire inclusivity among the general public with respect for transgender rights.
4) The Green Theme – Action for Environment Conservation
Due to rising concerns about global warming, higher levels of pollution in cities, and increased news of depleting water resources, Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata implemented green themes to bring more awareness about maintaining a clean environment.
They executed innovative, creative, and environment-conscious ideas that aimed at reducing waste generated at such festivals and conserving our precious natural resources.
One such pandal at Khidderpore was decorated with around 5 lakh plastic bottles to raise awareness of global warming and ask the community to be more careful about where they dump their waste. They also reused a large portion of electronic waste like the parts of used appliances, fan coils, radiators, and more to create a path that leads to the pandal.
5) The Vatican City Church Theme
The Shree Bhoomi Sporting Club pandal at Bidhannar brought the Vatican City Church to Kolkata through its unique theme idea that will continue to resonate in people’s minds for years to come.
The theme was brought to execution through the club’s president, Sujit Bose, who wanted people to experience the splendour of visiting the famous Vatican City in Rome even if they could not travel to see the charm or architectural brilliance of the destination.
This Durga Puja pandal took more than 60 days to complete, and it had over 100 artisans labouring on this massive project.
Watch Durga Puja Pandals LIVE on Vi
Do not miss out on the Durga Puja celebrations! Watch Durga Puja pandals happening in different locales right from the comfort of your home. Witness unique Durga Puja themes and watch the festivities live on the Vi app.
So, use the Vi app today and revel in the upcoming Durga Puja festivities.
