Top 5 Durga Pujo Pandals in Bangalore 2015
Just the other day it was Maha Shashti of Durga Pujo 2015 and today the Mahanavami too ended; how soon the days flew! While Ma Durga was battling the evil that engulfed Earth, I, a mere mortal was battling the traffic and chaos of Bangalore city in an effort to reach the various Durga pujo pandals scattered all over the city. Nevertheless it had been an enjoyable experience meeting friends at different corners of the city on the pretext of visiting Durga Pujo pandals.
Each and every association has put up the idols and organized the pujos in the best possible way, here is my list of 5 Durga Pujo pandals which have done very well and I am glad I could visit.
Oikotan Hebbal Durga Pujo
This Pujo pandal scores high on not just the theme of the pandal but also on beauty and colorfulness of the idols. The Goddess was housed in a boat with a golden peacock sculpted at the head of the boat which looked magnificent against the clear blue skies!
The idols were made completely of clay (no attached clothes or hair) and painted with eco friendly bright colors. The entry and exit points clearly marked unlike in some other pandals where confusion prevails all day long. The interiors of boat had wonderful art work. The arrangement inside the boat is neat and impressive.
Oikotan Durga Puja 2015
Oikotan Durga Puja Pandal 2015
Jaymahal Sarbajanin Durga Pujo
This is their 61st year of celebration and with so many veterans working behind the screens of the pujo preparations the result had to be good. The theme for their decoration this year was Vivekananda Rock memorial of Kanyakumari. The structure was made of saffron cloth and wood. The flags flying and wavering continuously along with breeze, the statue of Vivekananda standing amidst the waves, all excellently depicted. Superb craftsmanship!
The interior too had murals of scenes from Vivekananda’s life. It proved to be a good learning experience for all. The idols were simple though, Oikotan pandal scores over them for this. The arrangement inside is good, neat and well planned.
Jaymahal Sarbajanin Durga Pujo 2015
Socio Cultural Association, Indiranagar
The theme concept is missing in all other pandals that I visited, though each pandal put in effort to beautify the idols. Socio Cultural association used white shoal pith to decorate the idols. Elaborate jewelry and crown designs made of white shoal pith adorned the idols. And they were housed in copper colored arched structures. The entry and exit points weren’t clearly marked which did give rise to confusion at times. Their cultural programs were awesome. The baul geet I just heard is still ringing in my ears. Excellent seating and food arrangements done!
Socio Cultural Association, Indiranagar 2015
Bengali Association Bangalore
Every year I visit this pandal. It is as if my pujo celebration isn’t complete without having a glimpse of these idols here. The massive scale in which they organize the Durga Pujo every year stuns me! It is crowded yet there is no chaos, it is not very organized yet there is no confusion, the idols too aren’t very glamorously decked up yet the presentation is too good; in short don’t miss the Durga pujo in this pandal if you are in Bangalore at this time of the year!
They score the highest in their arrangement of food stalls which very successfully draws not just the Bengali crowd but also the non-Bengali crowd and that is what makes this pandal the most successful!
Bengali Association Bangalore 2015
Koramangala Krishna Mandir Durga Pujo
Allow me to mention this pandal in this list. This Durga Pujo pandal figures here for its simplicity! I found no elaborate theme or glamorous decorations, neither there is any food stall nor any parking facilities but once I entered the pandal the holiness of the atmosphere silenced me! I could come back carrying a little bit of peace in my heart and I was content with that!
Koramangala Krishna Mandir Durga Pujo
Amazing collection of photos. Some of the Durga Pujas in Bangalore are quite old, I was pleasantly surprised to learn.
A very good round-up!
Wow.. nice post.. I was thinking about writing something similar this Dusshera.. but couldn’t find time to visit all the pandals.. awesome
I didn’t know they had so many Durga Puja pandals in the south as well! The pics are lovely and the post well-written as usual 🙂
Wow, such wonderful colors in the first one! 🙂
Beautiful pics!
Thanks for sharing.
All are very beautiful! I liked the peacock shaped pendal in artistic view, but loved the last one, (Koramangala ). Devi’s face is filled with peace.
What a lovely post! Beautiful captures dear. Glad to see the durga pujo pandals in bangalore 🙂
Wow what a detailed informative review.
lovely
Thank you for sharing the very best.
Very beautiful pandals ! Actually Durga pooja is not celebrated at large in our vicinity so I dont know much about it . But now learning a lot about it through your posts !!
So beautiful! I really wish I could see the real ones in Kolkata! I’ve just seen the ones in Bombay and fell in love!
Second one is nice
Awesome!
These are some very interesting ideas and designs. Absolutely brilliant pictures
Stunning pictures of the Durga pujo pandals.The themes and craftmanship in each of them is marvellous.The kind of the experience inside the pandals and the festive mood must have been an overwhelmingly fabulous and pious.
Such beautiful Pandals,,, 🙂 Bangalore seems to be shinning with glory!
The swan like pandal is based on the Baliyatra in Odisha.
Wow! Stunning pix. I like the first one the best, especially since they used eco friendly paint!
Those are very beautiful – great shots.
Thanks Al for the comment.
I like meeting your culture
ALOHA I’m SO glad to be back online!
ComfortSpiral
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Thanks for sharing this! Each one of them is gorgeous! The first one blew my mind away – very different from anything I have seen. And I love the fact that its made of clay!
Yes the first idol is my fav too.
Thank you Chaitali! 🙂
Nice compilation! I wish you had done this earlier. Would have been a nice guide. I would have visited the Hebbal one. I went to the Ulsoor one.
You are right I should have done this earlier. Next year I plan to do it at least by Saptami.
Beautiful pictures….It’s heartening to see how Bengalis in different states also come together to celebrate such an occasion!! Thanks for sharing..
Yes so much of joy!
Thank you Panchalidi. 🙂
Fantastic images Indrani, the craftsmanship is outstanding
Thank you for commenting Denise. 🙂
What an informative article. I had no idea about the Durga puja being
Observed so extensively in Bangalore.
And great pictures as usual.
Glad you found it informative. Thanks for the comment. 🙂
I love the Indian sculptures, they are so colourful.
very colorful
Awesome photos..
Awesome photos from Durga Puja Pandals.
Thanks for sharing.
Greetings
These are all beautiful! Especially loved the tribute to Swami Vivekananda at Jaymahal Sarbajanin.
Ek se badhkar ek… pandal hopping is always fun.
Amazing and beautiful, colorful captures, Indrani!! Thank you for sharing!! Have a wonderful weekend!!