From a robot greeting guests at the entrance to a recreated Dakshineshwer Kali Temple and Hawa Mahal, pandals across Noida have experimented with a lot of exciting themes.Taking a cue from the name of Gautam Buddha Nagar district, the Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee of Sector 34 has taken inspiration from Buddha Dhatu Jadi temple of Bangladesh. The pandal has an idol of Goddess Durga and a huge golden statue of Gautam Buddha. “We want to promote peace and tranquility, which are the ideals of Gautam Buddha,” says Tarun Bagchi, President of Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee, Sector 34.In Greater Noida West, Gaur City Bengali Cultural Association is celebrating its third year of Durga Puja festivities. The 50 feet tall mandap built by the artisans from Medinipur, West Bengal, is made of bamboo. The structure of the pandal is based on the legendary bamboo fort built by Titumir, who led an uprising against the British. Goddess Durga’s idol has also been designed to resemble the carvings inside Ajanta Ellora caves. Keeping in sync with the ‘Beti bachao, beti padhao’ campaign, the opening day of the festivities was marked by a scholarship ceremony for underprivileged girls. According to the organizers, the pandal is recyclable and Durga’s idol has been carved out using eco-friendly clay.In Sector 25, Jalvayu Vihar Sanskritik Kalyan Samiti (JVSKS) is celebrating its 26th Durga Puja, this year. A 55 feet entrance of the pandal is inspired by the art and architecture of the ancient temples of Odisha dedicated to Lord Shiva. To discourage the use of motor vehicles, the JVSKS association has started a golf cart service to ferry residents of Jalvayu Vihar from their homes to the pandal, which is around 800 metres away from the venue.Kalibari Durga Puja Committee of Sector 26, which is the oldest one in Noida, is celebrating its 36th Durga Puja this year. The pandal is a replica of Kolkata’s Dakshineshwer Kali Temple. “This is our attempt to showcase the iconic temple of Goddess Kali, which the residents in Noida and other parts of NCR may not have seen. Even for those of us who grew up in Kolkata, seeing its replica here will bring back many memories,” says Joharlal De, President of Kalibari Durga Puja Committee, Sector 26.For the first time in India, a robot will welcome guests to the pandal. Sector 61’s Balaka Bengali Cultural Association has roped in a robot, Mitro, to greet visitors. The theme of this pandal is electric mobility, which has been showcased by a 60 feet tall replica of the Petronas Towers of Malaysia. The entrance of the pandal is also a 35 feet tall replica of Hawa Mahal.

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