The must see Ganpati pandals of the city

The city has donned a festive look with the arrival of Bappa and with the brilliant glitter of multicoloured lights, echos of devotional music filling the air and interesting pandals on display, excitement and festive fervour has gripped everyone. The pleasant weather serves as the perfect setting to embark on the mandatory pandal hopping part of the festivities.From the most creative pandals to the most imposing Ganesha idols, we tell you what you need to know to have a memorable trip regaling in the festivities.
Pandals put on a creative look this year While some city pandals like to keep the décor simplistic, a host of others are donning their creative hats and going big on the innovative factor. A pandal at Sector 2 has been drawing countless devotees owing to the majestic replica of Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial that houses an imposing 18ft tall Ganesha idol. White and simple, the façade of the replica comes to life with the projection of coloured lights. This pandal is by far one of the most popular this year. While pandals like these draw inspiration from heritage structures in the country, others are doing so from the big and small screens. The Jurassic Park-themed pandal at Khursipar, Bhilai is much talked about these days, receiving a minimum of 600 visitors on a daily basis during the Ganesh festival. The pandal in Sector 4 that has dedicated its theme to environment awareness has received the appreciation of many a visitor as well.
Colourful and detailed tableaus are another fad among pandals this Ganesh season. Using the festival as an occasion to retell stories from the epics in a creative way, several pandals in the city have brought to life scenes from the story of the Elephant God. Besides venerating Ganpati, devotees can also gain a glimpse of other revered deities like Shiva, Parvati and Hunuman among others. “These tableaus are very elaborate. It is both a learning experience as well as entertaining to see mythological figures coming to life as they move, making the understanding of these epics so much easier, especially for children,” said Gaurav Konar, who visited the Sector-10 pandal.
Ganesha welcomed in homes and hostels There is a different magical charm to invoking the Lord into one’s home; according to city-based Anjali P, "There is so much excitement in running around to make arrnagments for the festival. Besides having the joy of deciding on a theme for the pandal, preparing sweets and buying new clothes, bringing Ganpati home for these 10 days bring good fortune, health and wealth. It has been a family tradition for us since the last 30 years or so." Meanwhile, Ganesha has also been the newest entrant at city hostels, where he is welcomed with pomp and humble devotion. Talking about their experience, Anand Rathi from Sri Ragvendra Hostel, said, "We welcomed Ganpati at the hostel canteen’s common area amidst the sound of the drums and dancing. Preparing for Ganpati’s arrival demanded immense team effort, and working towards it only brought us closer to one another. On a celebratory note, contests like ‘selfie with Ganpati’ and quizzes on the life of Lord Ganesha are being organized at hostels to enhance the festivities."
Safety and arrangements for parking Special arrangements are being made for parking and the safety of people during rush hours. To keep the celebration going without traffic snarls building up, the city police are on their toes tackling every situation that come their way. Pritam Sahu, a parking attendant, said, "Women’s safety is our major concern this year. Keeping in mind the rush, female guards have been specially appointed at some pandals. Separate areas are being designated for parking as well."