Medieval and modern merge at pandal gates

KOLKATA: From Hardwar''s Har-Ki-Paurighat to Pieza Venezia castle at Rome – pandal architects have assembledarchitecture from around the world this Kali puja. And the suburbs aren''tlagging behind either.Amidst the concrete jungle of south Kolkata''sNorthern Park locality, one can find a traditional village. Artistes havepainstakingly worked on the theme to create a perfect ruralambience."The attempt has been to revive the dying traditional folkart of Madhya Pradesh," said 73 Palli Sammilani general secretary Ashim Basu,organiser of Shyama Puja. Mayor Subrata Mukherjee and P.J. Swamy of Swaminarayantemple inaugarated the Rs 2.6 lakh budget puja.A walk away atRamkrishna Park on Sarat Bose Road is the Southern Samity Puja where the pandalresembles Belur Math''s Sharadapith Further south, off Netaji Subhas Road, theNaktala Youth Club is celebrating a Kali puja with a difference. They aresponsoring a universal health scheme for 300-odd families from the economicallyweaker sections.The northern fringes of the city have a fewshowpieces. The Kali pujas in Barasat, North 24-Parganas, are expected to be bigdraws. The famous Har-Ki-Pouri Ghat of Hardwar has been created by Barasat''sPioneer Park Atheletic Club. Moloy Dey, the club president says that last year''sAmarnath shrine success spurred the club on to a more ambitious effort thisyear. "We have attempted to recreateManasha Hill, Bell Tower, the seven nathmandirs and the Har-Ki-Pouri all alongthe Pioneer Lake to give it a real life feel. Bulbul Pal, the art director ofRamoji Film City in Hyderanbad has been working hard for a fortnight," Deysaid.At Barasat, KNC Regiment Club has drawn inspiration fromfar-off Italy in creating the Pieza Venezia Castle.Club memberPartha Ghosh Dastidar said over a hundred artisans had been working for the pastthree months on the pandal. Rivals Satadal Club and Regiment Club have created acoal mine and a Rajasthani temple.Of course, the crowdpullers arelikely to be Lake Kali Bari, Russa Young Star Club on Russa Road and theMacPherson Square puja .In central Kolkata, Naba Yubak Sangha''s puja nearSealdah is another heavyweight.