60 ft tall pandal made of bamboo, eco-friendly theme; Tarun Club a must visit this time

During monsoon season Sonai Road becomes a drain, during winter the stretch is as dusty as a desert, but during Durga Pujo the same Sonai road is heaven on earth. Contemporary lighting welcomes you to one after another huge pandal. Sea of people walk in those pandals as a wave, thousands feast on the prasadam arranged every day, pandal hopping is incomplete if you have not visited Sonai Road, that is the beauty of the place.

Since decades, Tarun Club has been one of Sonai Road’s and Barak Valley’s biggest attraction. This year too there is plenty in store for the visitors. Tarun Club is celebrating its 60th Anniversary and to mark the occasion as a memorable one, the puja committee decided to go eco-friendly. A 60 ft tall and 50 ft wide Pandal made of bamboo and other biodegradable materials will welcome you. Inside, the idol of goddess Durga and her children are completely made of mud. “The clothes, ornaments, and all other designs are made out of mud. We have not used any plastic or other imitations,” informs Golap Roy, General Secretary of the Tarun Club Durga Puja Committee.

The responsibility of building the idol is handed over to Pritam Das of Karimganj. “They made the basic structure at their workshop and got in in the pandal about a week ago. Now they are adding the finishing touches,” adds Roy. The Puja Committee is planning to inaugurate the pandal and idol for visitors on the day of Panchami (October 14, 2018). The first president who presided the Durga Puja Committee in 1958 will inaugurate the pandal and the chief artisan Amulya Paul who made the idol of 1958 will remove curtains and uncover the idol for the public. “We have decided to pay respect to the ones who started it all and that is why we have requested them to lead the opening ceremony,” says the general secretary.

The pandal decoration is also handed over to a trusted group of artisans from Karimganj, “This year Pritam Das is decorating the pandal,” informs Roy. Rain, however, has emerged as a big obstacle for the workers toiling it hard day and night. “Since this is a bamboo structure varnish plays a vital role. We wanted to varnish just before the inauguration so that the freshness is exhibited to the people, but, because of the rain they are just unable to work,” he adds.

Along with ‘Onno Bhog’ all three days, there will be a set of cultural events throughout the Sharodtsov. The Puja committee has earmarked a budget of Rs 15 lakh and expects a bigger crowd than previous years.