Durga Puja 2012: Pandal-hopping in Guwahati: in photos

I love Guwahati during Durga Puja, the city has a buzz during this time of the year. Every street is lit up till late in the night, people dress up, balloons and food everywhere and then there is the mad pandal-hopping!

I am in Guwahati for Durga Puja after seven long years and I am soaking this city's spirits, filling up my quota of pandal-hopping. Cumulatively, till now, i have visited around 10 pandals. Here I'm putting up photos from some of the best pandals I have visited so far for all the Guwahatians who could not make it to home for Durga Puja. Enjoy!

Ganeshguri Puja (BK Towers):

The Ganeshguri Puja (more often than not) has been one of the winners for best sculpted deity year after year. Now you know why!

Maa Durga

Ganeshguri puja

Nimki, Khoja, Jalebis..!

Jalebi b(h)ai

Nepali Mandir Puja:

Check the ornaments on the deity, it's made of pure gold! The pandal was decorated by pots of various shape and sizes. Pretty innovative decor.

From the outside

On the platform

The ornaments on Maa Durga, made of real gold

Who thought pots could make such an impressive decor!

Race Camp Puja:

Battling through the traffic at 1am in the morning, we reached Race Camp Puja. It was a huge affair with melas of the sort wherein there were carousel rides, stalls selling knick-knacks from jewelry to toys to porcelain, street food of no bounds and a cultural program. A fun environment, definitely!

The entrance to Race Camp Puja

Cultural show 

The Pandal from outside, made of bamboo husk

The deities

Maa Durga

Chana-chur time!

Of many colors

Ghosh Brother's Puja:

It's a pity I do not know the name of the place where this pandal was, but it was a Ghosh Brother's Puja. We discovered it on our way from the  Race Camp Puja going towards Nayantara Puja and halted without much thought. We weren't disappointed.

This pandal had a very impressive decor. On the way to the deity, the entire pathway had beautiful modern art pieces in bright, warm colors. And contrasting the bright colors of the ambiance were the deities, in pure white. It was a modern pandal, and definitely a shift in the right direction.

Art adorns the walls on this pandal

The pandal walls with lovely art pieces

Leading to the platform

The deities

Maa Durga's idol at the Ghosh Brother's puja

Gita Mandir Puja:

The Gita Mandir Durga Puja temple took inspiration from the Indian Parliament, no less! We went there not only to see the Pandal but also to eat the tasty ghugni that my friend was craving for!

Parliamentary Pandal

The Deities

Maa Durga

Carousel Ride infront of Parliament

Latasil Puja:

For the kid in you to come out in all its glory, I recommend visiting the Latasil Puja. Too many distractions. Really, too many! Infact, so immersed was I with the sights of the stalls and rides, I forgot to click a picture of the pandal!

Here are some I clicked minus the pandal (which was in the shape of a boat)

Latasil Puja

Nayantara Puja:

Saving the best for the last, I present to you the Nayantara Puja. Designed by Mr. Nooruddin Ahmed, a family friend, this puja wins hands down on its creativity, lighting and for its beautifully sculpted idols. I am not being partial to a family friend! And you can see through these photos how magnificent the pandal is. The theme was based on Chinese lines.

Captivating Lights

Chinese lamps guiding the way

Outside, the dragon guards

In the style of Chinese architecture

The absolutely breathtaking idols

So, that was a round-up of the best pujas I have witnessed till now. As and when I see more, I shall share. Happy Durga Puja everyone!

For the Puja adjudged Best Puja, Best Idol along with a host of other awards, continue reading here