Hyderabad’s Durga Puja pandals celebrate art, heritage, and sustainability

A touch of Madhubani

It has been more than 45 days since a house in Manikonda was converted into an art studio. A team of nine — professionals and students from Uttarayan Bangiya Samiti, a socio-cultural Bengali organisation — have been meeting here after work to transform the Durga Puja pandal (The organisation has been making pandals for six years now) into an immersive work of art featuring Madhubani and Lippan styles. While Madhubani is a traditional art form of Bihar significant for bright colours and intricate line drawings, Lippan, a traditional mid-mirror artwork from dessert regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan. .

“According to our panjika (Bengali astrological calendar), an elephant is the vehicle of Maa Durga this year. So we decided to create a toran (gate) of elephants using thermacol with vibrant artwork,” says Kuntal, an art teacher.

Elephant crafted out of thermacol and painted with Madhubani art
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Special Arrangement

The structure, made from recycled wood sourced from Hafeezpet, will feature colourful acrylic murals in Madhubani style. The pandal, to be installed at Sri KVMR Pride Gardens in Narsingi, carries an eco-friendly message. “Nothing is wasted, as we use only sustainable materials. These artworks can be repurposed as home décor after the festivities,” explains Kuntal, citing last year’s celebrations, when panels were taken by members to create aesthetic wall art in their homes. “The 20 plants we used last year were planted in the garden and have grown significantly over the past year.”

Of art, tradition and social responsibility

Tirthankar Chattopadhyay (creative design) and Shwetanuj Saha of The Cyberabad Bangali Association
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Special Arrangement

The Cyberabad Bangali Association’s (CBA) Durga Puja pandal in Miyapur steps into the 18th year of Durga puja celebrations with renewed enthusiasm and creativity. CBA’s pandal built using bamboo and jute cloth and mandap has the theme to showcase the centuries-old Bengal pattachitra — a vibrant folk art form renowned for its intricate storytelling through hand-painted scrolls. With a theme that blends tradition, art, and social responsibility, this year’s Durga idol is crafted from bamboo, jute, and clay, informs Subhro Mukherjee, general secretary of CBA. “Even the saree, other garments of the dieties and the ornaments are made from clay. By using biodegradable, locally sourced materials, the Association ensures that the goddess’ form remains pure and returns gently to the earth at the end of the festivities.”

“By bringing Bengal pattachitra to the forefront, CBA hopes to revive interest in this fading art form and introduce it to younger generations,” he adds.

Executive committee members Tirthankar Chattopadhyaya and Shwetanuj Saha merge “cultural revival with contemporary relevance” in designing this year’s Durga idol and mandap. The idol is crafted in the form of shanti rupini , portraying the Goddess without the conventional ten-armed depiction.

Mandap in the making
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“Instead, she will be envisioned as Uma — a young girl symbolising innocence, purity, and resilience. By highlighting this form, CBA seeks to draw attention to the urgent issue of girl child safety, making a powerful social statement through the festival,” says Subhro.

By combining art, devotion, and a social message, the team demonstrates that the celebration is not just about tradition, but also a festival of thought and responsibility. “Our puja pandal has always been about community, culture, and consciousness. This year, through patachitra and the shanti rupini idol, we want to celebrate heritage while also raising awareness about issues that touch every family,” adds Subhro.

Evolving designs

Located in Gachibowli, the first pandal of the Utsab Cultural Association was a simple structure made of bamboo and cloth. Over the years, the team has experimented with increasingly complex designs.

Instead of professional artists, the organisation’s members — who are passionate about art — take on the task of creating the designs , says the association’s vice president, Krishendu Roy, while overseeing preparations at the Gachibowli Stadium Recreation Park.

This year, members Sulagna Das and Sabari Chakravarty have planned an eco-friendly pandal measuring 40 feet in width, 80 feet in length, and 16 feet in height, using bamboo, alpona motifs on cloth, and earthen lamps and have began working on the pandal only a week ago. . “While the alpona motifs represent auspiciousness, prosperity, and fertility, the lamps signify the triumph of light over darkness and the divine guidance we seek from Maa Durga,” explain Sulagna and Sabari.

Published – September 25, 2025 12:50 pm IST