Durga Puja in Kolkata is never just a festival; it’s a spectacle. Every year, the city throws itself into weeks of art, craft, and community spirit, dressing up its streets with temporary but jaw-dropping “pandals.” This time, one township in Salt Lake—IB Block, to be precise, has pushed the envelope further. They’ve built a full-blown “mini Dubai,” complete with a towering Burj Khalifa, the curving Burj Al Arab, and even the futuristic Dubai Frame. So, if you wish to travel to Dubai without the need for a passport and expensive flights, this Durga Puja Pandal is your chance!
Kolkata’s “Mini Dubai” Durga Puja At IB Block
The organisers behind the spectacle, dubbed “Dubai Durge Durga,” say the idea was to mirror India’s rising global aspirations and Dubai perfectly fits the bill. Define a city better than Dubai that symbolises ambition, wealth, and unapologetic glitz, will wait! On the entrance, you’ll be greeted with a 42-metre bamboo-and-steel Burj Khalifa. Not just the majestic structure, it also shines bright under lights and sound shows. Surrounding it? Replicas of the Museum of the Future and Dubai Fountain, all pieced together by artist Reyaz Ahmed, who knows Dubai inside out.
The Challenges Behind The Dubai Glam In Kolkata!
Now, let’s not pretend it was all smooth sailing this time for Durga Puja. Kolkata’s notorious monsoon rains tried their best to wash away months of planning. Still, the team pressed on. Bamboo provided the skeleton, while reflective acrylic sheets lent that futuristic sparkle. And in true Kolkata fashion, the pièce de résistance isn’t just the skyline, it’s the idol itself. Imagine 123 kilos of pure gold jewellery. Yes, you read that right, Goddess Durga has been draped with over a hundred kilos of Gold at this pandal. How can you forget gold when talking about Dubai?
Not The First Brush With Dubai
This isn’t Kolkata’s first attempt to channel the Gulf. The Sreebhumi Durga Puja pandal made headlines for its Burj Khalifa-inspired decor in 2021. But it came to a sad end as the authorities had to shut it down to manage the crowds.
A Meeting of Two Worlds
At its core, the “mini Dubai” Durja Puja pandal isn’t just about replicating shiny towers. It’s about weaving cultures together, West Bengal’s traditional devotion with Dubai’s iconic modernity. And perhaps that’s why it’s striking such a chord. Festivals, after all, aren’t just about rituals.
A UNESCO-Recognised Site
Lest we forget, Kolkata’s Durga Puja isn’t just another regional carnival. In 2021, it was honoured by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. That’s no small deal. It makes every pandal not just a showcase of local art, but a platform on the world stage. This explains why thousands, who have already been flocking before the main festival days, are posting viral videos of this Dubai-themed marvel. Social media has only fanned the buzz. Come the festival’s peak, crowds will likely spill over every lane.
Cover Image Courtesy: Reyaz Ahmed/Instagram