But the oldest Durga Puja in the city, also known as Kashmere Gate Durga Puja, organised at Bengali Government Senior Secondary School, Ludlow Castles, Civil Lines in North Delhi, is the most traditional pandal as the organisers believe that rituals and cultural values can’t be compromised.
‘From dress code to the Dhakis (drummers) and music, it is all traditional,’ said Debashish Ghosal, a committee member of Delhi Durga Pooja Samiti .
Formed in 1910, Delhi Durga Pooja Samiti is the oldest puja committee of Delhi. Celebrating its 105th Durga puja, Debashish said: ‘Unlike others who use truck and other modes of transportation to carry idol for immersion, we carry the idol in a bullock cart accompanied by men and women in dhoti-kurta and red bordered saree.’
He added that clay used for making idol is brought from Kolkata and the idols are made in Kali Bari Temple by the artists from Kolkata. Only Rabindra Sangeet and Bangla gaan (songs) are played during celebrations.
The other pandals in the city, out of which 11 are situated in the famous Bengali colony Chittaranjan Park (CR Park), are influenced by western culture. Mela Ground Durga Puja Samiti this year decorated the idol inspired from Rajasthani style. ‘We took Rajbari (palace of royal family in Kolkata) as our theme and decorated our pandal according to that. However, the goddess idol is inspired by Rajasthani style of dressing,’ said Vivek Roy, a committee member.
‘From dress code to the Dhakis (drummers) and music, it is all traditional,’ said Debashish Ghosal, a committee member of Delhi Durga Pooja Samiti .
Formed in 1910, Delhi Durga Pooja Samiti is the oldest puja committee of Delhi. Celebrating its 105th Durga puja, Debashish said: ‘Unlike others who use truck and other modes of transportation to carry idol for immersion, we carry the idol in a bullock cart accompanied by men and women in dhoti-kurta and red bordered saree.’
He added that clay used for making idol is brought from Kolkata and the idols are made in Kali Bari Temple by the artists from Kolkata. Only Rabindra Sangeet and Bangla gaan (songs) are played during celebrations.
The other pandals in the city, out of which 11 are situated in the famous Bengali colony Chittaranjan Park (CR Park), are influenced by western culture. Mela Ground Durga Puja Samiti this year decorated the idol inspired from Rajasthani style. ‘We took Rajbari (palace of royal family in Kolkata) as our theme and decorated our pandal according to that. However, the goddess idol is inspired by Rajasthani style of dressing,’ said Vivek Roy, a committee member.