Pujas focus on nature, eternal cycle of life to draw crowds
The Statesman | 13 September 2025Ahiritola Sarbojanin in north Kolkata is celebrating their 86th year of Durga Puja. The Puja, known for their traditional themes and ways of idol-making, has embarked on a spiritual theme; the lifecycle of man and the universe. They are calling it ‘Probaho’, the eternal flow. The pandal is not just a structure it is a journey through layers of existence, each installation tracing the flow of energy from nature to human, from human to divine. Here the mysteries of the forest meet scientific precision, the rhythm of Tantra meets bhakti.
Pritam Ghosh, spokesperson of Ahiritola Sarbojanin says from day to night, life to death, everything runs in a cycle. “This is what we are also trying to capture at our Puja mandap. We are trying to highlight this ecosystem to the young generation, who have no time to think of ponder about their existence,” he added.
Silver Oak Estate, a high-rise at Kali Park, Rajarhat is sticking to their love for nature. This year they are advocating people to plant trees and be more nature-friendly.
In their 10th year, the residents of Silver Oak Estate have embarked on a green drive. The pandal is being crafted with live plants, breathing life into tradition. In recent years, the alarming loss of greenery has led to rising temperatures, vanishing biodiversity, and increasing natural disasters. Concrete jungles are replacing real ones, and the very has turned impure, rue the residents.
With a budget of around 20 lakh, the residents want to create a social impact. Puja committee president of the Estate Amit Mukhopadhyay said, “We have ordered for 1,000 plants to be used in and around our pandal. Earlier, we used to live near nature. In urban settlements, we have tried to keep nature close to us, at the balconies and rooftops.”
The plants which will be used for the theme are Golden Pothos, Oandanus, China palm, Chinese Doll, Wood Beria, Areca Palm etc.
