By Shrabana Chatterjee

Copyright thehindu

The Lalabagan Nabankur Durga Puja Pandal in north Kolkata has been constructed with over 3 lakh plastic bottles to bring spotlight on the rising environmental crisis of plastic usage and how the aquatic organisms suffer because of it.

This pandal has been designed like a man-made aquarium, complete with real fish swimming inside, and the theme is “Karagar” (Cage). The organisers of this puja said that this cage is a symbolic portrayal of how the fish, and other underwater lives feel when they are engulfed in the huge amounts of plastics that we dispose in the sea.

“There is an urgent need to recycle, reuse, and repurpose our products so we can reduce plastic waste production. If we reduce production of plastic waste only then can we make some real change,” Tapas Ray, secretary of Lalabagan told The Hindu.

In the night, the pandal comes alive with blue lights which reflect on the water and fish present inside the pandal to create a magical impact. This visual has gone viral on social media bringing in thousands of pandal hoppers into this small Durga Puja in the narrow lanes of north Kolkata.

Last year, Lalabagan had become popular for similar reasons when they used over 8,000 green plants to construct their pandal becoming one of the most eco-friendly and environment friendly pandals of the city. They got huge appreciation from people, as visitors flocked in numbers.