Hawa Mahal-themed pandal and 50x80 ft laser projection draw crowds in Siliguri
Saktigarh Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee in Siliguri marked its Platinum Jubilee on Friday by setting up a pandal modelled on Rajasthan’s iconic Hawa Mahal and staging a large-scale laser projection that depicts Shiv Tandav and the Mahishasura Mardini theme. The projection, the committee said, measures 50 feet high and 80 feet wide, and became the main attraction for visitors during the opening days of the festival.
The committee organisers said the Hawa Mahal recreation has been designed to closely resemble the Jaipur structure so devotees can experience the architectural theme without travelling. The technological attraction, they added, is intended to complement the religious and cultural elements central to Durga Puja in the region.
"We strive to bring something new to its celebrations every year. This year, we have recreated Rajasthan’s Hawa Mahal, making it almost identical to the original monument. Visitors no longer need to travel to Jaipur to see Hawa Mahal; they can visit Shaktigarh and experience it here," said Rathin Dey, Secretary, Saktigarh Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee, according to ANI.
The projection is displayed across the facade of the pandal and, the committee said, includes sequences that interpret the Mahishasura Mardini narrative alongside visualisations of the Shiv Tandav. Such use of projection mapping and laser technology has become increasingly common at major pujas in West Bengal as organisers seek to blend tradition with contemporary staging to appeal to wider audiences, particularly younger devotees.
- Event: Saktigarh Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee Platinum Jubilee
- Theme: Hawa Mahal recreation (Jaipur)
- Projection size: 50 ft high × 80 ft wide
- Visuals: Shiv Tandav, Mahishasura Mardini
Durga Puja, a major religious and cultural festival in West Bengal, observes several key days including Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami. The festival is traditionally marked by elaborate pandals, sculpted idols, cultural programmes and communal rituals that draw neighbourhoods together. In Siliguri, where communities often stage distinctive themes and large-scale installations, such innovations add an urban dimension to the devotional proceedings.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pandal theme | Hawa Mahal (Jaipur-inspired) |
| Projection height | 50 feet |
| Projection width | 80 feet |
| Key depictions | Shiv Tandav, Mahishasura Mardini |
Committee members said the aim was both devotional and cultural: to honour the Goddess while presenting an attraction that would draw families and younger crowds. The use of projection and laser work, organisers added, required technical coordination and investment in equipment and designers to ensure the images aligned with the sculpted idol and the pandal architecture.
The Saktigarh committee’s initiative follows a wider trend in West Bengal where neighbourhood pujas experiment with motifs from Indian architecture, cinema, mythology and contemporary art. For many in Siliguri, these thematic choices are expressions of local identity and creativity, as well as points of civic pride during the festive season.
As the festival progresses, traditional rituals and cultural programmes are scheduled to run alongside the visual installations. Devotees traditionally gather for aarti, bhog and evening cultural shows, and community participation remains the backbone of the celebrations. Organisers have urged visitors to follow any on-site instructions for crowd management while enjoying the displays.
The pandal and its projection are expected to be a major draw through the main days of Durga Puja, offering residents of Siliguri a blend of devotional observance and modern spectacle during the Platinum Jubilee year of the Saktigarh Sarbajanin committee.
