In pictures: South City Mall all dressed up for Durga Puja

South Kolkata’s South City Mall has got a festive makeover for Durga Puja with a vibrant traditional decor

The mall has been decorated with traditional Bengali motifs and things such as ‘chandmala’, earthen wall plates or ‘shora’, ‘dhunuchi’, garlands made of ‘shola, ‘gamchha’, and more

Decorative pieces and artefacts commonly used in Bengali weddings and pujas have found their way into the mall’s decor with a touch of contemporary designs

Hand-painted ‘shoras’ are hung from ‘gamchha’-swathed umbrella structures along the outer perimeter of the mall. The ‘shoras’ are painted with images of goddess Durga, lord Shiva, and mythological scenes

A large mandap-like structure greets visitors in the mall’s atrium. An idol of Durga with Mahishasur at her feet stands at the centre and the entire installation is decorated with painted ‘shoras’ depicting the many forms of the goddess

The Food Street or the food court at South City Mall has been decorated with traditional fabric elements of Bengal and Durga Puja — ‘gamchha’, laal-paar saris, and more. Yellow light bulbs, which were once used to decorate streets before tea lights and fairy lights made an entry, have been used to light up the space

The cash counters of the food court have traditional ‘haathpakha’ or hand-held fans as the main decor element, along with traditional wall hangings including one of Durga. The palm leaf fans, once abundant, are quite a rarity these days

Speaking to My Kolkata, Man Mohan Bagree, vice-president, South City Group, said the decor was focused on showcasing Bengal’s old and popular festive props, and the dominant red palette was chosen to symbolise Shakti. ‘We wanted the old look and feel of Durga Puja, which we would cherish a few generations back,’ he added

South City Mall has always decked out in different avatars to celebrate festivals and important events, always in sync with the mood of the time. Bagree credits Suman and Prabir of Decorwala, ‘who have consistently come up with great concepts and executed them well for the last 15 years’

South City Mall’s retail stores and F&B outlets have been decorated in the same festive vibe, including with bundles of ‘kaash phool’ that are symbolic of the festive season