Different shades of puja pandals in Hyderabad

The sound of the dhak is set to reverberate as Hyderabad is ready with puja pandals for Durga puja celebrations. Teams are working round the clock to complete the pandals just in time for the festivities set to begin on October 15. Here’s a round-up of pandals to explore during the festival season in Hyderabad.

Nostalgic feel

“Amidst the craze of theme-based pujas, we at UTSAB Cultural Association decided to step back to take a peek into the nostalgic memories of our childhood,” says the association’s vice president Krishnendu Roy. Durga Puja means coming together as a community, celebrating culture, food and art.

“The pandals were simple but tasteful and idols were adorned with traditional Shola ornaments,” he says. Visitors to National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Gachibowli will get a taste of this at Chotobelar pujo, the Durga puja of childhood. An off-white and maroon flower cutouts on the pandal’s outer facade and cloth lamps printed with auspicious motifs in the interiors take them back to the lanes of Kolkata.

While Sulagna, Sabari and Konica and Mridul Saha have conceptualised and executed the design, artist Ranajit Pal has created the idol and Krishna Majhi from Burdawan in West Bengal has crafted the shola ornaments.

Historically known as Shola saaj, the delicate, milky-white decorations are handcrafted from the sponge-wood core of the aquatic shola plant. “This is our way of supporting the local artisans of West Bengal who for generations have created these beautiful pieces. These local art forms and artisans are fighting a losing battle in the age of digitisation and modernisation,” Krishnendu says.

A new beginning

Cyberabad Bengali Association (CBA) is organising the celebrations for the 19th year and this time at a new venue — World One School in Kondapur. CBA’s celebrations have got a digital makeover as it introduces a mobile app with an AI chat bot ‘Sharodi’ for the first time. Inspired by the vibrant spirit of Durga puja, Sharodi provides the itinerary. “Our team has been working for the past six months to plan the events,” says CBA’s general secretary Subhro Mukherjee.

While idol maker Ranajit Pal has created an eco-friendly ‘Ekchala’ goddess Durga idol with idols of Lakshmi, Ganesh, Saraswati and Kartikeya, the design has been conceptualised by Tirthankar and Shwetanuj. ‘Ek chala’, meaning integrated, brings multiple sculptures on the same frame. A 22-feet Durga idol made of jute, clay and bamboo is also claimed to be the tallest in the city.

The seven-day Durga puja celebration from October 15 is packed with cultural performances, traditional rituals and festive feasts at Bengali food stalls. Besides competitions in art, fancy dress, recitation, quiz, and dance competitions for children, adults can also participate in cultural events, watch Bengali theatre or folk performances. A special performance by Mumbai-based playback singers and sisters Antara Nandy and Ankita Nandy will be on October 17.

Melting pot

Krishti Gosthi meaning cultural association in Sanskrit at the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) township in Kanchenbagh is a melting pot of cultures. Since residents are DRDO employees and from across India, the celebrations too are diverse.

Saptasur, the community hall inside the township, also booked by the residents for weddings, cultural activities and events, turns into a vibrant hub during the festival. “Since all members of the organisation have science and technology background, peace is our theme every year,” says secretary N Hazari. A meticulously-crafted temporary pandal showcases visually distinct and interactive heritage displays. While visitors will experience a blend of devotion and communal harmony, Hazari hopes people will see beyond the pandal’s visual artistry to experience the togetherness, bhog and community projects.

From being a modest gathering to becoming a socio-cultural landmark, Krishti Gosthi's 42-year-old Durga Puja journey has evolved over the years. “Despite the scale, the focus on rituals, hospitality and community bonding remains unchanged,” he adds.

Managing an event of this scale involves logistical coordination, crowd management, and ensuring smooth operations. Hazari speaks highly of the volunteers and the seamless support from the DRDO community that help them overcome challenges every year.

Community spirit

Oikotan Hyderabad’s Durga puja is rooted in tradition. With ‘Apnar barir pujo’ (Your house’s puja) as the theme, the Panchavati colony community centre in Manikonda is set to create a warm and intimate vibe. “We want the space to be rooted in community spirit and evoke a sense of belonging,” says Doyel Bhattacharya from the organising team.

Since its launch in 2018 in Hyderabad, the scale of the festival has grown bigger but community is at the heart of celebrations. While the decor is inspired by a traditional Bengali home, the idol’s background has handcrafted carpets in striking red and white featuring Bengali alpona designs. Here, the dakar saj ornamental decoration comes crafted in thermocol and the drawings and paintings on the walls and wooden panels are being done by women artists of the group.

And visitors who are tired after all the pandal hopping can relish the khichdi, mixed vegetarian curry, paneer gravy, gulab jamun and kheer. The bhog or prasad is provided free from October 17 to 21 from 1pm till 4pm. “Oikotan is also a pet-friendly pandal because we believe pets are part of the family,” she says.