By Mansi Arora

Copyright timesnownews

As the enthusiasm and excitement peak ahead of the Durga Puja, Kolkata has unveiled the largest alpana (floor art), stretching 500 feet, covering nearly 13,000 square feet at Newtown. The masterpiece was painted by 20 artists in five days, showing their talent, devotion, and resilience. Durga Puja has always been a festival of art and emotion, and not just a religious event. This year, as the artists created a huge masterpiece of art on the streets of Newtown, it emerged as a powerful symbol of Bengal’s heritage, resilience, and innovation. WATCH Digital Artist Suvranil Nath, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), conceptualised the design, which was later executed and painted by Anindita Deb and her team of 20 painters. In just five days, the painters hand-painted every detail of alpana to bring out the art and make it perfect. This is among the largest ever attempted alpana for Durga Puja and has now become one of the most talked about landmarks of this year’s Durga Puja festivities. Also Read: ‘Aisa Bhi Hora Hai Desh Mein?’: Internet Reacts To Kolkata Corporate Office Celebrating ‘Durga Puja’ Battled Through Kolkata Rains This comes just after Kolkata witnessed heavy rains and flooded roads, with their morale still high and hearts thrilling to celebrate Durga Puja. Despite the changing weather, the artists did not stop and, with persistence, created a masterpiece on the streets of Kolkata. As the city dealt with very heavy rainfall, it left Durga Puja pandals inundated and business owners counting their losses. Roads and residential areas were flooded, causing traffic congestion and struggles for office workers. What is Alpana? Alpana is a traditional art form that originated in Bengal. It is usually drawn on floors with rice paste and natural colours during festive occasions. However, along with colours and rice paste, it can also be painted with flowers, leaves, geometric shapes, and spiritual symbols. Earlier, alpanas were traditionally modest in size, as they were created in puja spaces or limited courtyards. However, this year, it has been painted on a street of Kolkata, redefining art with tradition and turning Newtown into an open-air gallery.