The coronavirus may have turned all pandals into containment zones this year, because of the high court ruling to that effect, but it also gave Nayapatty Aditya Smriti Sangha in Sector V its theme for Kali puja.

A tank stands in front of the Kali puja pandal of Salt Lake Maitri Sangha in BF Block. The pandal, with machine gun replicas surrounding the spherical roof, was a tribute to the Indian Army. Sudeshna Banerjee

The club, in its 28th year, chose the theme ‘Deepabolir aloy hok mohamarir binas’ (May the pandemic be destroyed by the light of Diwali).

The walls of the passage to the pandal were lined with tiny spiked spheres representing the virus. A giant virus, about six feet in diameter and looking even more sinister being bathed in a red light, was visible above the arch of the pandal. A trident pierced it from below. The choppers in each of the goddess’s eight hands had chopped a virus each. The two remaining hands in front held a mask and a sanitiser in each.

The idol of Sukantanagar Sporting Club being garlanded by the priest. The club’s pandal (Right) was very airy with the cloth cover on the sides being dispensed with. Large umbrellas with colourful frills made up the ceiling. Pictures by Sudeshna Banerjee

“The club traditionally worships a 10-handed Kali, instead of the traditional four. And such was the theme that the goddess, I thought, would look even more powerful against the virus if she had 10 hands,” said Nayan Metya, the theme-maker who has been in charge of the club’s pandal for eight years now.

Kali puja underway in FE Block Saradindu Chaudhury

Over 700 masks have been used in the pandal. “They were new masks. When we were dismantling the pandal, some locals took away a few for their use,” he smiled.

In any other year, a catchy theme like this would have found takers during Jagaddhatri puja but there was no scope to recycle this time. “Budgets are so low everywhere that few could afford a theme.” The virus, along with the rest of the decor, therefore, are back in his Tamluk workshop.

lock residents prepare for puja to start in HB Block. Saradindu Chaudhury