Guwahati Pandal Celebrates Assam Heritage for Kali Puja

Guwahati: Guwahati is bracing for Kali Puja and Diwali. Committees are finishing elaborate pandals across the city to mark the festival of lights. The Vivekananda Sporting Club in Kalapahar stands out this year.

Their installation at Colony Bazar celebrates the bicentennial of Assam tea. It carries the theme Color of Soil, Tea, Bamboo and Rang Ghar. The structure honors local history by incorporating the iconic Rang Ghar from the Ahom era and the state one-horned rhinoceros. Club official Sashanka Chakraborty said his team used 1,500 bamboo poles to build the site.

The club marks its 62nd year of festivities. They claim this is the biggest Kali Puja in the Northeast. Thousands of devotees visit the site annually. "Assam tea has completed 200 years, and we have chosen the Assam Tea theme for our puja pandal," Chakraborty said.

Artisans are adding final touches to structures citywide. They use vibrant lighting and intricate bamboo work to showcase indigenous heritage. Diwali festivities run for five days. They begin with Dhanteras, a time when people buy gold, silver, vehicles, and utensils. The celebration honors the return of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and the victory over Ravana.