The last vestige of rain may not have drifted away, but autumn is very much in the air and the city is gearing up to celebrate Durgapuja that begins October 10. The Durgapuja committees in the city are working on various pandal themes, and one of them is greenery and the nature’s fury in Kerala.
The greenery and recent flood tragedy in the state will be shown through a tableau on the theme ‘Adbhut Kerala,’ by Navyuvak Durga Samiti at 10 No. Market in the city. Besides that, the replicas of Vaishno Devi Yatra, Trikeshwar temple of Rishikesh, Hingula temple of Pakistan are being made at Vijay Market, New Market and Bittan Market.
President of Navyuva Durga Utsav Samiti, Rahul Malviya told Free Press “Every year, we make tableau on recent topics. This year, a tableau on the theme ‘Adbhut Kerala’ is being made by 10 artists from Chhindwada. It will showcase the greenery of Kerala as well as its aftermath of flood recently. We have selected the theme to send out the message that Kerala which is known as God’s Own Country but it happens if people tempers with nature or environment.” “We will show its greenery through tress, fountains. Rescue operation will also show during Kerala floods. We have started making tableau from last one month and its cost is Rs 15 lakhs,” he said.
Malviya further said , “ Besides tableau, an clay idol of goddess Durga will also installed which sends out the message of to save tree and environment. The height of the idol is 12ft while breath is 22 ft.” Similarly, President of Durga Utsav Samiti, Vijay Market, Rambabu said, “The theme of tableau this year is ‘Vaishno Devi Yatra’. We will also make a Vaishno Devi Darabr where devotees can see three forms of goddess – Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. An idol of ‘Bharonath’ will also make in it. The work of making tableau has started from September 5 by the 35 workers of Kolkata. Its cost is Rs 20 lakhs.”
He said that besides tableau, a 20ftX14ft clay idol of goddess will also be installed and its cost is Rs 1.25 lakh. “ This year, a replica of ‘Trikeshwar temple’ of Rishikesh is being made by 20 workers of Kolkata. A ‘Laxman Jhula’ will also be made in it which will be one of its major attractions.
The cost of tableau is Ts 14 lakh,” said coordinator of Vyapari Sangh Durga Utsav Samiti, New Market, Ajay Agrawal “Besides, an eco-friendly idol of Goddess Durga along with an idol of Lord Hanuman as gatekeeper will also be installed. The height and breadth of the goddess idol will be 12ftx37ft. Its cost is around Rs 2 lakh.” Agrawal added. The replica of ‘Hinglaj Mata Mandir’ in Pakistan and ‘Maa Bhawani Mandir’ in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan is being set up at Bittan Market .
