Bhubaneswar, Oct 9: As the vibrant festival of Durga Puja approaches, preparations are in full swing across various puja pandals in the city. Artisans are working tirelessly to complete their themed structures as the countdown to the festivities begins. This year, the Rasulgarh Durga Puja Committee is set to make a splash by constructing a replica of Gujarat’s iconic Swaminarayan Temple.
This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the Rasulgarh Durga Puja Committee. The stunning, multi-colored, wood-carved Swaminarayan Temple in Ahmedabad, originally built in 1822 as the first temple of the Swaminarayan Hindu sect, serves as the inspiration for this year's theme.
Sanjay Baliarsingh, secretary of the Rasulgarh Durga Puja Committee, shared that 45 artisans from West Bengal are working on the 85×120-foot structure. The total expenditure for this pandal is estimated at Rs 45 lakh.