Work in progress

The AG Block puja was inaugurated on Mahalaya but even on Sashthi, two people could be spotted painting sculptures inside the pandal. “The pandal still isn’t ready?” asked a woman out loud. “It’s ready! These artisans are part of the theme,” explained an organiser passing by.

The theme of the block, “prapti” showed how people’s desires never seem to end and the artisan-actors symbolised how people never stop working to fulfil their dreams.

Sales call

The background score at the AB Block pandal wasn’t music but it was all too familiar with residents. “They play this outside my house every day. It drives me up the wall!” laughed a teenager. “One of these vans parks in the shade outside my house and I have to bear with this all day!” said another laughing and covering his ears.

The block’s theme was feriwala and the sound track was the recorded invitation to residents to come check out their wares. “Sale, sale, sale!” announced the first boy along with the recording. “O mashima, gachh tolay dnariye ki bhabchhen, eshe dekhe jaan,” mimicked the second visitor.

Drone soccer at IB puja.

Colour of the future

At IB Block, visitors were excited at the prospect of air ambulances and bullet trains in the future but several people couldn’t help but notice the colour of the skyscrapers. “Baba! 2050 teo nil-shada?” exclaimed a lady, referring to the blue and white combination which is preferred by the current ruling dispensation. Another man noticed the picture of the chief minister at the entrance and told his family the same.

Lip service

Visitors to the FE Block puja walked in to explore the pandal but walked out confused. The pandal had a large earth replica on top, half green and half polluted with plastic and the like. It was evident that the makers were taking a stand for the environment. “But the artwork is made of thermocol!” said a lady, touching the figurines at arm’s length. “That’s the worst thing they could use for the planet!”

Non-starter

Apart from hoardings of spices, leggings and vests hogging space outside pujas, there were QR codes put up by the Bidhannagar police. “What are these for?” a lady asked an officer sitting at the police stall at AE (Part 1) hadn’t noticed any QR code at his stall but he took a look and guessed…“I think they are maps to help visitors drive to and from different pandals.” “Well, they don’t work,” said the lady, showing her phone to the cop. The screen said “no preview available.” “I saw this board and tried it at the IB Block puja too but it failed to open.” The officer had no answer.

A model of the earth atop the FE Block pandal

Drone soccer

Visitors to the IB Block puja had the chance to watch and play an innovative game. Drone soccer was being played out in a small arena where teams from either side — not kicked but — flew drones to score goals.

“This is a new-age hybrid game invented in South Korea that is gaining popularity around the world,” said Mayur Chandraker, head of the marketing department of Delhi-based Drone Destination that had installed the arena.

The full-fledged game has five players on each side — striker, goalkeeper et al — and the drones were enclosed in spherical cages that resembled balls. The goalposts were round shaped and elevated — reminiscent of Quidditch for Harry Potter fans — and the objective was to fly the striker drone into the post.

“This game is not just a source of entertainment but also has great potential for students of STEM (science, technology, engineering, medicine) subjects. They can build the drones themselves in school labs — we sell the kits — and then fly them, compete and enjoy,” said Chandraker.

Police QR code at AE (Part 1) puja

The game however couldn’t be played as frequently as they wanted due to the rains. Still, those who played enjoyed. “I’d never heard of such a game before and this was the first time I tried flying a drone,” said Adhaksaj Chowdhuri, a Class VI student from Labony Estate, after trying his hand at it. “I’m more of a cricket player but if they set up a drone soccer field in Salt Lake School, where I study, I’d love to join.”

Brinda Sarkar