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Glimpses from Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty puja’s grand inaugural ceremony

Dignitaries inaugurate the ancient temple-themed pandal, offer prayers, get click-ready and beat the dhaak

My Kolkata Web Desk Published 28.09.22, 06:45 PM
The Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja pandal was thrown open to visitors on September 27. Rupali Kahlon, wife of major general S.S. Kahlon, GOC, Bengal sub area; Melinda Pavek, consul general of USA in Kolkata; and Sangeeta Sahu, wife of Commodore Rituraj Sahu, naval officer in-charge West Bengal; offer flowers to the deity. “The wait is finally over. We are hoping to welcome more visitors than in the past two pandemic years. We are well-prepared. People have already started visiting the pandal since Mahalaya,” said Suren Khara, general secretary of the puja committee. My Kolkata is the digital partner for the Puja
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The Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja pandal was thrown open to visitors on September 27. Rupali Kahlon, wife of major general S.S. Kahlon, GOC, Bengal sub area; Melinda Pavek, consul general of USA in Kolkata; and Sangeeta Sahu, wife of Commodore Rituraj Sahu, naval officer in-charge West Bengal; offer flowers to the deity. “The wait is finally over. We are hoping to welcome more visitors than in the past two pandemic years. We are well-prepared. People have already started visiting the pandal since Mahalaya,” said Suren Khara, general secretary of the puja committee. My Kolkata is the digital partner for the Puja

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
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Actor and MP Shatrughan Sinha was the chief guest at the grand inaugural ceremony. He is seen here with Sundeep Bhutoria (far left), the chairman of the Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Committee
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Actor and MP Shatrughan Sinha was the chief guest at the grand inaugural ceremony. He is seen here with Sundeep Bhutoria (far left), the chairman of the Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Committee

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay inaugurated the pandal and lit the inaugural lamp in the presence of consuls general, ministers, actors and other dignitaries. H.M. Bangur, industrialist and philanthropist (next to Bandyopadhyay), was the guest of honour
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MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay inaugurated the pandal and lit the inaugural lamp in the presence of consuls general, ministers, actors and other dignitaries. H.M. Bangur, industrialist and philanthropist (next to Bandyopadhyay), was the guest of honour

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
 (L-R) Melinda Pavek, consul general of USA in Kolkata; Astrid Wege, director of Goethe Institut-Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata; and Acharapan Yavaprapas, consul general of Thailand; draped in saris for the inaugural ceremony
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(L-R) Melinda Pavek, consul general of USA in Kolkata; Astrid Wege, director of Goethe Institut-Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata; and Acharapan Yavaprapas, consul general of Thailand; draped in saris for the inaugural ceremony

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
Folk dance performances were organised by the Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja committee to welcome the guests
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Folk dance performances were organised by the Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja committee to welcome the guests

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
Actress Koneenica Banerjee presented a special solo dance recital on the occasion
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Actress Koneenica Banerjee presented a special solo dance recital on the occasion

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
The ambassadors from different embassies looked around the pandal, appreciating the intricate artwork
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The ambassadors from different embassies looked around the pandal, appreciating the intricate artwork

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
Sudip Bandopadhyay, MP; Astrid Wege, director of Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan and Zha Liyou, consul general of China in Kolkata; tried their hand at beating the dhaak
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Sudip Bandopadhyay, MP; Astrid Wege, director of Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan and Zha Liyou, consul general of China in Kolkata; tried their hand at beating the dhaak

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
Shashi Panja, cabinet minister, and Sudip Bandopadhyay, MP, seek blessings from the goddess
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Shashi Panja, cabinet minister, and Sudip Bandopadhyay, MP, seek blessings from the goddess

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
Poet Srijato was also present at the inauguration ceremony
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Poet Srijato was also present at the inauguration ceremony

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
Guests Esha Dutta and Mohua Chatterjee at the pandal
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Guests Esha Dutta and Mohua Chatterjee at the pandal

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
The Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty pandal is modelled after the Chola Dynasty temples of south India. The pandal has been created by artist Sutanu Maity
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The Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty pandal is modelled after the Chola Dynasty temples of south India. The pandal has been created by artist Sutanu Maity

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
The idol has been given a stone-finish look by artist Badal Chandra Paul in keeping with the pandal
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The idol has been given a stone-finish look by artist Badal Chandra Paul in keeping with the pandal

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
The puja also pays tribute to all those unknown men and women who toiled hard to build the beautiful temples
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The puja also pays tribute to all those unknown men and women who toiled hard to build the beautiful temples

Amit Datta/My Kolkata
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