Durga Puja 2021: Bengalis in Bengaluru get ready to see how 'Bengal meets Karnataka'
This year Bengali Association for the Residents of Sarjapur and HSR Area (BARSHA)'s theme is 'Rural Bengal meets Rural Karnataka'; read details
FollowPre-Covid era Bengaluru used to have more than 15 big pandals, and a few small Durga Puja celebrated in societies buildings and areas. Durga Puja is the most important festival for Bengalis; as the 5 days carnival comes closer, the excitement is getting higher.
People staying far from West Bengal living in Bengaluru can enjoy and witness the large-scale celebrations in the Silicon Valley of India. This year, the ‘Bengali Association for the Residents of Sarjapur and HSR Area’ (BARSHA) will be recreating the festive atmosphere of Kolkata for the people in Bengaluru.
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BARSHA is calling this year theme as ‘Where Rural Bengal meets Rural Karnataka’. It will be showing the cultural wonders of Karnataka and West Bengal, showcasing Karnataka art and architecture mixing in with the artistic elements of West Bengal.Â
According to organisers, the Durga Puja pandal will have roof tiles by Karnataka’s style and Kulo design by Bengal’s tradition.
This year’s BARSHA Dur ga Puja aims to closely knit the customs of both states (Karnataka and West Bengal). The pandal will be organised at a conventional hall in HSR Layout.Â
One of the organisers, Priyanka Sinha Roy informed that the theme of this year's pandal would highlight the origins of Durga Puja that started from rural parts of Bengal that later extended to the big cities in India. Because they are hosting the puja in Karnataka, the organisers will have a unique twist in the structure that represents both the states' cultures.
Priyanka said, "We are trying to merge different structural and cultural elements of Bengal and Karnataka to make a theme of Rural Bengal meets rural Karnataka. We are the first-ever Durga Puja association that recognises the significance of both Karnataka and Bengal in the years of Durga puja that has been celebrated here in Bengaluru. There is a part of Karnataka in Durga Pujo as well. Hence the whole theme is being made to blend the cultures together. Roof tiles, alpana, the tulsi tree from Karnataka and the Maa Durga with kulo and bamboo works from Bengal. What better way to say that  "Bengal meets Karnataka."
Ambar Mitra, president of BARSHA has said that the Durga Maa's idol will be installed in a structure measuring around 30ft in and 13ft in tall. It will be made of bamboo and roof tiles sourced from local vendors. The pandal will also display some of the Chitarra works, a type of folk art native to Karnataka.Â
Talking about the Covid-19 protocols, the BARSHA organisers will ensure safety during the 5-day event.Â
