By Ajitha Menon

Kolkata, Sep.20 (ANI): A group of artists in Kolkata have prepared a Puja Pandal using nearly 10,000 Tablas or, Indian percussion instrument, on the occasion of Durga Puja festival, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess of power.

The ‘Tablas’ have been used to decorate the Pandal or, makeshift tent from inside and outside, as it would be visited by a large number of devotees on this religious occasion of Durga Puja.

According to the organisers of this Puja Pandal, the objective was to use Tabla to popularise it among the youth.

The same group won accolades in 2007, for its dry fruit-based Pandal and in 2008 for its conch shells-based Pandal.

“This year we have chosen Tabla to showcase the tradition of Indian music. People nowadays are going away from the traditional Indian music. The young generation is more interested in the western beats and sounds. So to bring them back to the original root of India, the original tradition of our Indian music. This year we have used this Tabla. In fact, we have used around 10,000 tablas to decorate our Pandal,” said Jaydeep Sengupta, member of the Raipur Durga Puja Organizing Committee.

Meanwhile, the organisers have created scenes taken from Mahabharata, the Hindu epic, for a religious ambience.

Durga puja, which falls during the nine-day long Navratri period, is celebrated with much fanfare in the eastern parts of the country.

Legend has it that ‘Asuras’ or demons from the other world invaded heavens after a hundred years of war. The Hindu trinity of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu then created Durga, the most powerful of all gods and goddesses, to vanquish the demons.

Pandals or makeshift prayer tents hold a special significance during the Durga Puja festival.

Every year, organizers make different themes and lavish settings to make their pandal stand out amongst the rest, as numerous devotees visit these and participate in these religious makeshift tents. (ANI)