Patna’s Dak Bungalow Chauraha Durga Puja pandal is drawing visitors with an 80-ft recreation of Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho temple, millions of decorative lamps and a 21-ft idol of Goddess Durga, while organisers prepare for an estimated 30-40 lakh visitors during the festival.
The pandal, set up by the Navyuvak Sangh Shri Durga Puja Samiti Trust on Dak Bungalow Road, is marking its 63rd year. The structure is 55 ft wide and was planned nearly six months in advance before being transported from Kolkata in eight trucks.
The handcrafted decorations were created by 18 artisans led by Bappa Barik of Medinipur in West Bengal. Barik said around 25 women worked on the decorative elements for five to six months and were paid Rs 600 a day. The designs were conceived by Kolkata Art College and use hogla leaves sourced from Bengal.
The leaves are dried, varnished and cut into different shapes before being assembled into the final decoration. The craftwork forms part of a temporary public installation that is expected to become one of Patna’s major visitor attractions during the festival.
The central feature is a 21-ft idol of Goddess Durga in her ‘Ashirwaadi’ form, decorated with gold ornaments. The idol was made by Jagannath Pal, an artisan from West Bengal who has been producing idols in Patna for more than three decades. The traditional chalchitra behind the idol has also been sculpted to match the theme.
Lighting and mechanical displays add to the evening attraction. Bhola Electronics of Chandannagar in West Bengal has installed an estimated six to seven lakh small lamps around the pandal. Other displays include a recreation of the Jagannath Puri temple, a peacock-shaped entrance, a mechanical Shiva temple in which water appears to fall on the Shivling, and scenes depicting Lord Shiva playing the damru and Lord Krishna playing the flute.
A rotating backdrop features Vishwakarma, while a 16-ft ghost display has been included for children. The puja committee has estimated the overall budget at around Rs 45 lakh.
The scale of the expected footfall has also required arrangements beyond the pandal itself. CCTV cameras have been installed along the stretch from Dak Bungalow to Kotwali, and four LED screens have been put up to help manage crowds and provide a live telecast of the proceedings.
The organisers have also scheduled bhog offerings throughout the festival. Ghee halwa will be distributed after the evening aarti from 7pm on Saptami, followed by kheer on Ashtami and khichdi on Navami, according to committee president Sanjeev Prasad Tony.
The combination of a large temporary structure, high visitor projections, illuminated installations and extended movement along Dak Bungalow Road makes crowd circulation a central operational requirement for the organisers and local authorities during the festival.
