SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad Nov 11: A Kali Puja Pandal based on the ‘Nigeria Fish Festival’ has become a centre of attraction in the coal belt.
Like any other year over 50 Kali Puja Pandals have been set up in the Coal City based on several attractive themes but this time Pandal on the ‘Nigeria Fish Festival’ theme at Children Park at Jharna Para Hirapur is the cynosure of all eyes.
A 30-foot fish is set up in front of the pandal, along with a 20-feet mask representing the Nigerian tribal king and depicting the traditional method of spearfishing and cooking fish in the fire.
“Every year we try to set up a Puja Pandal different from others in the region. This year this unique pandal showcasing the activities related to how the indigenous community in Nigeria catches fish,” said Vikash Choudhary, the chairman of Shri Shri Shyam Puja Committee Children Park, Jharna Para Hirapur.
The committee has been organizing the Kali Puja in Park Market for the last 44 years. Thirty artists have completed this unique pandal this time in four months.
The chairman of the committee said that they have been organizing the Puja in Park Market since 1980. It tries to give a unique and informative Pandal to people every year. Last year, the theme of Pandal was based on Krishna Temple and Krishna Leela.
This time the artists from Medinipur ( West Bengal), led by Nitaai, have used wood and huggle leaves to construct the Pandal
Kamal Kumar, also known as Bablu, a member of the Puja committee said, “The entire Pandal is decorated with a fish theme, giving a glimpse of Nigeria’s Fish Festival, The festival showcases how African tribes make a livelihood by fishing, depicted through the Fish Festival theme in the pandal. The total cost of the Pujai has come to approximately Rs 14-15 lakhs.
He said that the committee has arranged electric decorations from Chandan Nagar (West Bengal), famous for Diwali and Kali Puja Pandal designs
” Of course, Kali Puja is performed at Park Market Hirapur every year but this unique informative Pandal has left behind other Pandals,” commented Dr SK Karan, Mahesh Pradhan, and Raj Kumar Singh.
