Space-themed Durga Puja pandal and illuminations to celebrate Sunita Williams’ return to Earth
Times of India | 30 March 2025
123456 Kolkata/Chandernagore: At least one city Durga Puja pandal has decided to make ‘Space' the theme of this year's Durga Puja, following the tremendous interest generated worldwide over Indian-origin American astronaut Sunita Williams' return to Earth after nine months in space. Several others have also decided to showcase the landmark event through lights.
Sajal Ghosh, patron of Santosh Mitra Square, which is quick to spot current topics and incorporate them into their pandal themes, said ‘Space' touched the hearts of the puja organisers. "We have planned to take up the subject as the theme for Durga Puja. I know the task is challenging, but we must give it shape in the next few months. Every year, we try to offer something novel. This year, we have thought of Williams' return to Earth after nine months in space. We need to do a lot of R&D on the subject. We will speak to experts in the field before giving a concrete shape to the theme," said Mitra.
Santosh Mitra Square or Lebutala Park Durga Puja Committee has in the past made contemporary topics its theme. In 1999, the puja committee projected the Gaisal train accident. In 2002, Eastern Railway's bifurcation undertaken by Atal Behari Vajpayee govt that invited heated debate in Parliament was chosen as the puja theme. In 2023, the puja organisers decided to capture the euphoria of Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya.
Several other city Durga Pujas, including Adi Ballygunge Sarbojanin, Ballygunge Sarbojanin, and Batanagar Sarbojanin, plan to incorporate the theme in the illumination outside the pandals and have already contacted the light artists.
Around 50 km away in Chandernagore, illumination artists have started planning ways to capture Williams' expedition in their works for display at various pandals in Kolkata. Multiple light artists have begun creating sketches depicting Williams and the SpaceX Dragon capsule's sea splashdown.
Chitralekha Pal, spouse of the renowned late Babu Pal, who received invitations from Amitabh Bachchan's Mumbai residence and Sribhumi in Kolkata to do up the illumination at various events, told TOI: "Yes, we would prepare rockets with LED. We will start sketching after a few days."
Asim De, a light artist who works annually at Entally, Baranagar, and south Kolkata puja pandals, said: "I have started to sketch paintings from the pictures from NASA." He continued: "Most of the puja organisers in Kolkata are demanding Williams' model in lighting." De is working on designs for Baranagar Napara Dui Bhai Sanga, Entally, and several south Kolkata organisers, with additional commissions from Ranchi and Guwahati.
Bidhannagar puja organisers have selected Tapan Dutta, another prominent light artist. Dibyendu Ghosh, who did lighting at the Maha Kumbh as well as JN Tata's foundation day in Jamshedpur earlier this month, informed TOI: "BMC chairman's puja would be big. I primarily contacted Ranjan Poddar, who is the main organiser. It would be very beautiful after completing it." Ghosh has secured orders from Adi Ballygunge Sarbojanin, Ballygunge Sarbojanin, and Batanagar Sarbojanin.
Chandernagore houses approximately 150 light artists, with eight receiving regular annual commissions. The local municipal corporation has established a dedicated light hub. Subhajit Shaw, mayor-in-council member, said: "Didi comes here every year during the Jagaddhatri Puja. She constructed a light hub for them. We feel proud of artists who spread our city's glory in India and abroad. Our Sridhar Das decorated the Thames River in London with lights."
The artists are currently occupied with conceptual sketches, planning to begin model decoration at their workshops shortly. Several artists who have worked on projects for Delhi Kalibari, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Assam mentioned they would maintain secrecy about their Sunita-themed designs due to a national competition amongst artists.
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