UP: Muslims join Hindus in welcoming Goddess at puja pandal at Kareli

PRAYAGRAJ: Amidst different Durga Puja pandal being established by the respective barwari of different localities of the city, the Durga Puja pandal set up by the Sarvajani Kareli durga puja barwari at GTB Nagar, Kareli stands apart.
This is the only Durga Puja pandal, which has been established by active support of the Muslim community of the locality.“This Durga Puja pandal is just across my home at Kareli and from past many years the Muslim community of the locality have been very active, right from choosing the theme to supporting the organisers and contributing in all the way that to help organisers” says Mohammad Akram, a local.
The pandal at GTB Nagar‘s Durga Puja Park is attracting many and witnessing heavy footfall of visitors. Displaying an eye catching glimpse of rural folk culture, the pandal has many clay statues depicting life in villages like bullock carts, animals and residents with earthen stoves, sheds etc. The eight feet high statue of Goddess Durga has also been spectacularly displayed. “Nowadays, the younger generation is getting away from the folk culture and that is why the rural environment has been shown artistically in the pandal”, says a member of the barware, Gyandendra Kumar Srivastava. The spectacular decoration of the light will surprise any visitors and so will the artificial flowers, plants and trees displayed inside the pandal. On coming to this pandal, devotees will feel as if we have come to a rural village.
“This pandal is decorated on the theme of Rabindra Nath Tagore’s story Haat Bazar, a soldier will be seen guarding his village at the entrance of the pandal. Shops selling fruits, flowers, earthenware, ration, tea, pan, spices etc along with bullock carts parked at one side and shops of confectionery are all made of clay”, said president of the barwari, Pradeep Dutta. It also shows a Lord Shiva temple and how a farmer looks after the things around him and a milkman takes care of his cattle, he added.
The general secretary of the barwari, Rajat Ghosh said, “All the 16 stalls have been made of clay, bamboo, tree trunk etc and the artists have given it a look so that it will look extremely real”.