Bangali’r 12 maashe 13 parbon! There is this famous phrase stating how Bengalis celebrate 13 festivals in 12 months and there is no denying it absolutely. Not just Durga Puja, but Kali Puja is also celebrated with pomp and glory in West Bengal. Different cities celebrate the grand festival by modelling magnificent pandals and worshiping Maa Kali. Chakdaha, a small town in the state, is worshiping Maa Kali in a splendid pandal built using phuchka. Yes, you read that right! Pani puris are now on the walls of a pandal.
Kali Puja Pandal Covered With Phuchkas
The extraordinary pandal has been constructed in Chakdaha, a town in the Nadia district of West Bengal. Pabna Colony New Bijoyi Sangha is worshiping Maa Kali inside a pandal decorated with loads of phuchkas. An amazing theme made a grand appearance in Kali Puja this year and the crowds are obsessed with it. I went to explore the pandal last night and it was a blissful experience to see all the intricacies, decor, and stunning nooks and corners.
Once you enter the pandal, you will feel like entering a literal world of phuchkas. From the walls to the place of keeping the Maa Kali idol, you will see fried street food all around you. Remember the famous meme, “Everywhere I go I see his face” from Spider-Man: Far From Home? Well, you will feel exactly like him after seeing so many phuchkas here, there, and everywhere.
The first thing that you will see inside is a huge structure built using bamboo decorated with packets of phuchkas. Well, one of the biggest highlights is the walls that are adorned with phuchkas inside saal pata, just like how phuchkawalas served years back, and yellow fairy lights glittering all around. There is also a massive rolling board and pin kept in the middle of the pandal. The interesting concept looks stunning with splendid decor in the background. You will surely be excited to see the attention to detail.
This is one of the many pandals in Chakdaha that is witnessing a rush of visitors and the credit for all these goes to the excellent artists who worked tirelessly to bring the ideas to the imagination.
So Many Beautiful Corners To Witness
The idol of Maa Kali is kept inside a huge sphere and you will be surprised to see the stage for her. The spherical shape has been covered using saal pata from the inside. And for the exteriors, artists have attached loads of packets of phucka all over the sphere. Maa Kali’s idol looks so beautiful and visitors can not stop themselves from clicking lots of pictures and videos of her.
The entire interiors of the pandal will mesmerise you will all the exquisite work and presentations. There are not one or two but quite a few highlights of the pandal and I truly loved watching every bit of it.
Make sure you have enough time on your hands while you visit the Pabna Colony New Bijoyi Sangha pandal as the line is quite long. But no need to worry much as you can enter inside within 15-20 minutes. All I can say is that standing in line is surely going to be worth it once you step inside.
Also read: Kali Puja 2023: From Khichuri To Niramish Mutton; Enjoy The Festival With These Bengali Dishes
A similar phuchka-themed pandal was also modelled in Behala Nutan Dal during Durga Puja. Thousands and lakhs loved that pandal and this pandal in Chakdaha is also receiving loads of love and appreciation.
Cover Image Courtesy: Shreya Ghosh
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