Sabudana Ganesh Idol A Crowd Puller At Bhubaneswar Pandal

Bhubaneswar: Ganesh Puja organisers in the city are coming up with unique materials and concepts to make their pandals and idols.

Take the case of Jeevanjyoti Seva Sangh at Ganga Nagar that has created a 12-ft-high Ganesh idol made from sabudana. Besides, the pandal entrance is designed like a banana leaf.

Five artisans from Kolkata took around a month to complete the idol and gate.

In an effort to promote awareness about the environment, the organisers will hold a programme called ‘Donate Tree and Collect Tree’.

“We have organised this programme to create social awareness after the devastation by Cyclone Fani. We have opened a kiosk near the pandal to distribute saplings to the visitors,” said association president Sridhar Behera.

As part of the celebrations, cultural functions will be held for one week. Prasad will be distributed on Saturday and the idol immersion ceremony will take place on Sunday.

The association has been organising Ganesh Puja at Ganga Nagar for the past 20 years.

The pandal has attracted huge crowds in the past for its unique concepts. Last year, the idol was crafted in Mumbai’s Lalbag style. The main attraction was the gate carved out like filigree work.

Earlier, it had presented an idol made of rice and white mustard seeds.