At This South Kolkata Pandal, Bhadralok Culture Enjoys a Revival

At a south Kolkata pandal, people are mesmerised with relics reminding one of the illustrious Bhadralok culture.

(Photo: Payal Mohanka/The Quint)

Ma Durga is all set to bid adieu, leaving behind  memories of unbridled creativity, surging crowds swarming the streets, soaking in the sheer magnificence of this much-awaited 5-day festival.

Tucked away in a narrow lane off Lansdowne Road in south Kolkata, a pandal quietly salutes the spirit of the Bengali bhadralok. Affluent and genteel, the Bengali intellectual elite rose during the British rule.

Gramophone being displayed at a pandal in south Kolkata.

Recreating a Bygone Era

In this pandal, craftsmen have recreated a bygone era where the bhadralok reigned supreme. Setting the stage with immaculate attention to details like the majestic white columns, the white and black checkered flooring and crystal chandeliers and recreating artifacts from an era gone by: the iconic easy chair, the ornate mirror, the regal hookah, the display of footwear, the antique clock and gramophone all vie for attention.

Tryst with the past as a pandal in south Kolkata displays relics used by the Bhadralok.

Illustrious Past of the Bhadralok

Nostalgia-soaked pandal-hoppers admire the painting of the quintessential bhadralok in his regalia on the elaborately carved easel. The imposing phaeton, the horse-drawn carriage parked at the entrance transports you back in time. An era when Bengal was the epicenter of reform movements, of renaissance in literature and the arts and of the awakening of political consciousness.

Old-styled ‘jutti’ shoes

A horse carriage used for travelling

Pandal depicting old-styled windows in south Kolkata

Pandal on the Lansdowne Road, Kolkata

Stepping out of this magical world, Kolkata resident Anuradha Chakraverty wistfully says:

It is a poignant reminder of times gone by: the genteel refinement. The Bengali bhadralok culture has gradually become extinct. With their inclination for artistic pursuits, these patrons of art and culture who were very open to Western influence epitomised Bengali lifestyle during British rule. Good art is one which leaves its lingering presence. This pandal is truly a work of art.

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(The writer is a Kolkata-based senior journalist.)