Every year, with the arrival of Durga Puja, the cultural capital of India, Kolkata gets ready to display an array of superbly talented pandal makers, sculptures and decorators. Durga Puja is a festival that has a significant economic impact on the city. According to a report in 2019, it was estimated the festival yielded approximately INR 28,000 crore (around $3.8 billion USD) in revenue from spending on decorations, clothing, food, transportation, and other related expenses. The same year, Kolkata had a tourist count of about 5 million, and it has been calculated the festival resulted in the temporary employment of 150,000 artisans and craftsmen. The celebration is not just a continuation of an age-old custom, but Kolkata has shown how traditions evolve with time, incorporating various aesthetic aspects along the way.
The most important paradigm shift that has happened in Kolkata during the last decade is the untamed creation of theme pandals. Most of the puja committees run for big prizes and, in order to win them, spend a lot on pandal decoration. But among this flamboyant clan is a group of people who uplift the cause for climate protection and sustainability through their inspiring creations. In 2019, news came floating from the East of Delhi, where a pandal was constructed, keeping the idea of green recycling drives in mind. Not only the idol of Goddess Durga but all her children featured end-of-life aluminium cans, plastic or other waste materials. It raised a lot of eyebrows back then, but now, when you think of it, it can be observed that the organisers were well ahead of their time.
Aluminium has a major role to play in the construction of temporary stalls and the pandal itself. You might have seen trucks overloaded with aluminium extruded profiles, which would be used to hoist expensive hoardings. Digital marketing can remain at the helm, but during the pujas, big bad placards are all that matters, and to support them, we need aluminium poles. Other than that, if you minutely look at the decorative items around the pandals, I can promise you'll find aluminium at every nook and corner.
Some of the famous Durga Pujas to date that have used aluminium generously in their construction are:
Bosepukur Sitala Mandir (2011): In an enigmatic display of exceptional skills, the South Kolkata Puja crossed all boundaries with an aluminium utensil-clad Durga Puja Pandal. Hundreds waited in queue to watch the deliberate utilisation of such everyday items in making a creative diorama. The most surprising and sustainable part about it is the decorative aluminium items from the pandal, and the framework itself are now available for purchase. Many regional Kali Puja (Diwali) organisers are lining up to own the aluminium utensils with kalamkari artwork. By creating a material loop, the biggest festival in Kolkata is saving a lot of money and reducing carbon dioxide generation.
Babubagan (2022): To celebrate 75 years of Independence, Babubagan, another South Kolkata-based organisation, came up with a coin-themed pandal. It is imperative that there was a lot of aluminium used in the construction. Aluminium's lightweight property is quite essential in the creation of a sturdy skeleton since conventional bamboo scaffolding doesn't possess similar strength. However, aluminium is heat resistant, which nullifies the chances of a fire outbreak, which can be quite detrimental for a public place.
Mudiali Club (2023): Innovation and creativity can breathe fresh life into even the most traditional celebrations. This year, the Mudiali Club's metal pandal for Durga Puja, named "Somaroho" or splendour, is a shining example of this. Amidst the sea of cloth decorations, this royal-themed pandal stands out and inspires us to think outside the box. Don't miss out on experiencing its majestic presence in Kalighat, South Kolkata. Aluminium is the most abundantly found metal on the earth's crust, plus it's cheap. Therefore, it is illogical to think that the pandal committee could have had the chance to avoid the use of aluminium in the construction.
Baguihati Joramondir (2023): The Shastribagan Sporting Club, situated near Baguiati Joramandir, has adopted a unique theme of 'Sadhana' for this year's celebration. The organisers have ingeniously incorporated the theme into the decor by using applique work on 'maadur' (straw mat) for the side panels, with a layer of aluminium sheets sandwiched in between. This innovative use of aluminium sheets not only adds to the aesthetic value of the decoration but also serves as an effective insulator by preventing heat from entering the premises. The use of aluminium sheets in this context is significant as it demonstrates the versatility of this metal in various domains. The theme of 'Sadhana', with its emphasis on spiritual discipline and self-improvement, has been aptly complemented by the use of this modern material in the traditional setting of the club.
Maitri Sangha (2023): To break away from the sole use of aluminium to a complete adherence to ESG goals, the Maitri Sangha, located on Motilal Nehru Road between Tridhara and Maddox Square, has displayed its exemplary creativity by crafting a stunning Durga idol and pandal from re-used metal scraps this year, under the supervision of the esteemed Pradip Chopra, chairman of iLead Kolkata. The talented artist Afsar Ali has skillfully infused a sense of nostalgia into Maitri Sangha's Durga Puja while simultaneously aiming to empower the unemployed youth through the 'Waste Billionaire' initiative. This idea is a brilliant step towards promoting entrepreneurship amongst the unemployed youth by encouraging waste recycling drives.
If we try to catalogue the last decade in years, we will find innumerable examples where the idea of sustainability has reigned over everything else. But this is the very first time that we are witnessing the increased use of end-of-life materials to give shape to enormous ideas. Aluminium's 100% recyclability and malleability attracts a lot of pandal designers, and to quote one, "we prefer non-combustible materials like aluminium or asbestos sheets along with flameproof tarpaulins."
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