Bengal comes calling

Bengal in Bangalore. The Belur Math in Mahalakshmipuram.
Over the last 20 days, K Karam, a designer from Kolkata, has been working day and night with 15 of his men to recreate his city''s architecture in namma Bengaluru.
Celebrating the 25th year of the puja with style is the North Bangalore Cultural Samhiti. "We wanted to bring some of our culture to Bangalore and thought of doing something different," says DK Panti, trustee member of the Samhiti.
Karam was called to Bangalore and he brought along with him photographs of various monuments that they might have liked to create. "I was thinking of the Vidhana Soudha, but the space wasn''t enough," he says. In fact, last year, Bangalore''s parliament was the cynosure of all eyes when Karam built it in Kolkata. "In Kolkata we''re recreating south Indian temples," he says.
While usually it''s a Bangalore style pandal that''s made in the city, this time there has been a shift. This particular model he''s built of the Belur Math is made out of cloth, cotton, wood and thermocol. However, every one who walks past thinks he''s used cement.
And with almost 2,000 people expected to gather at this hall everyday, Karam had to make sure it was big enough. "It''s spread over 350 sq ft and all the other structures nearby will be built to resemble it," he says, adding, "We already have Bangalore''s artisans learning how to make this." Prashanto Bhattacharjee adds, "The main thing is that we''re bringing the art and culture of Kolkata to Bangalore."
What''s more, this year, Bangalore''s Bengalis will pray specially for the rains. "We hope the drought ends," says SK Chakravarthy, who''s also the principal chief conservator of forests, Bannerghatta National Park. "We''ve been part of Karnataka for so long, we feel we belong to the state," he adds.