Organisers follow recycle mantra

KOLKATA: The dazzling artwork, paintings and motifs that delighted millions of revellers across the city during the Pujas will have an extended life. Most pandal decorations that made up the themes' are going to be recycled or sold off for re-use in Kali Puja and Jagaddhatri Puja. Many are fetching a tidy sum for the organizers as well while some designers have been given exclusive right over their creations as part of their fees.
Almost the entire pandal of Shibmandir Sarbojonin will travel to Chandernagore.The jute paintings, motifs, designs and figures that enthralled thousands will be transplanted at a Jagaddhatri puja pandal. It will help the organizers recover only around 10% of the Rs 8 lakh they splurged on it. But they will save a considerable amount on dismantling the pandal.
"We have a contract with a puja committee in Chandernagore which has been sharing the cost of our pandal. They will be taking away the decorations at their own expense. Apart from fetching us something from the pandal, it will help to ensure that the beautiful decorations are not thrown away immediately after the pujas. Some more people will get to see them," said Partha Ghosh of Shibmandir.
Bosepukur Talbagan, that had millions marvelling at the dolls and figures made of plastic bottles that did up the pandal, will be handing over the decor to designer Prasanta Pal who conceived the theme. According to the contract with Pal, he is free to sell them off. An agency has already been roped in to take away the bottles after they have been re-used. "It took a lot of hard work from Pal and his team to do the pandal. He has been given the right to sell the decorations. But we will make sure that the bottles are properly disposed off," said Subhendu Ghosh of the committee.
Pal rued that re-use was not lucrative but he was in favour of it for the sake of his artisans. "They have put in a lot of hard work. So it will be unfair if we have to just give away the decorations. At least, they will be on display for some more time and fetch them some money," explained Pal.
Ekdalia Evergreen, too, will have its fancy props and wooden statues taken away to Kali Puja pandals. The organizers have signed a contract with an organizer in Chandernagore. "It won't be much of a financial gain for us. But something is better than nothing," said Gautam Mukherjee, one of the organizers.
Badamtala Ashar Sangha, however, remains an exception. Their theme didn't require much decor this time, so there isn't much to trade off. The plywood decoration used in the pandal will make its way to the club and to members' residences. "We plan to preserve them as mementos and try and use them in future if possible," said Sandip Chakraborty, secretary of the club.
With themes turning elaborate, there is a need to develop a proper recycling mechanism for the embellishments used in pandals, felt artists. "So far, Chandernagore has been serving as market for these items. But some of the artwork being produced are good enough to fetch a much better price. Puja budgets in the suburbs are not big enough to pay us more. In time, we must develop an outlet for these brilliant decorations that could even be used next year," said Pal.