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Durga Puja Pandals Blend Art, Peace and Stories of Courage

Kolkata’s Durga Puja celebrations feature pandals with themes that mix devotion, social messages and artistic craft.

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Key Points

5 points

Pandals are elaborate festival structures showcasing cultural themes.

Aishwaryi focuses on women’s safety and empowerment.

Longmen Grottoes theme emphasizes peace and Buddhist influence.

Maha Milan theme reflects refugee experiences.

Durga Puja celebrates the Hindu goddess Durga’s victory over evil.

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The Aishwaryi pandal, inspired by Satyajit Ray’s film “Devi,” highlights the challenges faced by women at risk.

The Longmen Grottoes pandal draws from ancient Chinese caves to promote world peace and the teachings of Gautama Buddha.

Governor RN Ravi inaugurated the Maha Milan pandal, which honors the journey and struggles of refugee communities.

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6 words

pandals

large, artistically decorated structures built for festivals

devotion

deep love, respect, or commitment to a belief or deity

refugee

a person forced to leave their home because of conflict or danger

Buddha

the title given to Gautama Siddhartha, who taught about peace and compassion

inaugurated

formally opened or introduced

golden jubilee

the 50th anniversary of an organization or event

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