Best Durga Puja Pandals made in Bangalore

Durga Puja Pandals of Bangalore are setting new levels of grandeur with each passing year. Be it the theme of pandal, or the idols, the entertainment programs or environment friendly arrangement for visitors, each pandal has tried to surpass the other.

This year they are all competing for “Sharod Samman”, an award for the best puja pandal in the city. There are 10 categories for which these pandals will be judged. General public and visitors can grade them on categories like: clean and green, crowd management, eco-friendly initiative, decoration, cultural activities, bhog distribution, idols and streaming of events.

(Pandal is a large covered but open-sided temporary pavilion used for large gatherings celebrating some occasion.)

Durga Puja pandals of Bangalore

I visited some of the best Durga Puja pandals of Bangalore in last 3 days. If you have not visited them yet you can check them out and participate in the festivities.

Jagriti Bangiyo Cultural Association

This year JBCA have depicted Goddess Durga wielding a pen instead of the customary spear to kill Mahishasur. The backdrop is creatively made with books. 10 hands of Durga Ma holding pens, pencils, paint brush, etc. Clearly the message is education is the best weapon to wipe out all evils of society. The pandal is done beautifully with several handmade paintings. Observe carefully to see the little sculptures of thumb impressions placed near asura.

JBCA Bangalore Durga Puja Pandal is the only one that has come with a message for society.

Jayamahal Sarbajanin Durga Puja

It is an Alien Ship this year! The space ship has a partially-working control room. The ETs hanging are life like looking as if they can jump at you any time and Goddess Durga as visualized by the aliens. They have another set of idols installed which is worshiped. Like every year the fine finish to the pandal is exciting and good.

RT Nagar Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samiti

Idols here are charming, and the pandal is based on the sculptures of Hoysala temples. The pillars are carved and several replicas of sculptures of dancing women line the pandal. I touched them to see if they were really made of rock, was surprised to feel the thermocol (Polystyrene). Superb workmanship there! Extremely beautiful and novel setup!

Ulsoor Bengali Association

Ulsoor Bengali Association Durga Puja is not held at Ulsoor as the name suggests, they have named it Manpho Durga Puja. This year they have pandal near Manyata Tech Park. They have themed on Kolkata City.

Props put up are miniature models of major landmarks of Kolkata. There is the Howrah Bridges, Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, and a tana rikshaw too. This pandal has the highest number of food stalls. If you are a foodie and crave for Bengali food, now is the time and this is the place to visit.

Oikotan Bengali Association

Oikotan has presented Sonar Kila as the theme for the pandal this year. If you have seen or read Satyajit Ray’s Shonar Kella you will know this is referenced to the grand golden fort – Jaisalmer Fort. Though the effort is commendable the resemblance or similarity isn’t anywhere close. There are some props of camels and huge frames with pictures of Rajasthani women. For the past few years they had put up commendable pandals.

Sarathi Socio-Cultural Trust Koramangala

Theirs is a lovely set of huge idols of Ma and her children. Decked with orange and yellow marigold flowers the hall was reverberating with holy chants of hymns and mantras. Like every year this pandal is praiseworthy for the variety entertainment programs they have on all the days starting from panchami. This year too they have several music bands from all over Karnataka performing on all the days.

Socio Cultural Association Indiranagar

A modest and simple setup of idols with a designer backdrop! This year they are celebrating their 50^th year of formation. As a part of the golden jubilee celebrations the bhog isn’t the usual khichudi, instead they have fried rice, radhaballabhi and other stuffs. Many “bhoger” khichudi lovers were disappointed and that includes me also.

Kolaj Durga Pujo Koramangala

Koramangala in Bangalore alone has 3 Durga Pujo pandals and all of them close by within walking distance. This Kolaj Durga Pujo is within the Krishna Temple complex. It looks more like a family affair thrown open to public.

Poorva Bangalore Cultural Association Brookesfield

PBCA Brookefields Pujo too had a very simple theme. For the past few years they did have good themed pandals. However this year due to the sad demise of one of their active members the pandal has a simple look.

Sarathi Cultural Association Koramangala

This is one of the 3 Durga Pujos of Koramangala.

Food during Durga Puja in Bangalore

In addition to bhog, that is the community lunch, Durga Puja is often an occasion to indulge in other delicacies of Bengal! Several food stalls put out their mouth watering dishes often at a very reasonable price.

You get variety of food items in all pandals. Bhaapa Fish, Mutton Kosha, Kolkata Biryani, Rolls with all kinds of stuffing, Momos, Bengal sweets and more! Only the numbers of stalls vary.

Check out –> Durga Pujo 2022 venues in Bangalore.