This year, Kolkata is showcasing a truly unique Durga Puja pandal that celebrates the humble coconut, an ingredient not just vital to Hindu rituals and delicious Bengali sweets, but also a symbol of incredible versatility. Located in the Topsia neighborhood, this remarkable pandal champions sustainability, having been meticulously crafted from over 2,000 discarded coconut shells.
Sujata Chatterjee, the visionary installation designer behind this project, shared her inspiration: “The entire structure and its decorations are a heartfelt tribute to the coconut tree. It’s a plant that generously provides us with food, drink, shelter, fiber, fuel, and countless materials for both traditional and modern uses. We’ve utilized coconut shells, coir, dried leaves, and husk to adorn the space, creating an earthy and almost ethereal sanctuary for Goddess Durga.”
Dubbed “Nariyal Katha,” which translates to “Coconut Story,” the pandal is designed to immerse visitors in the feeling of being inside a coconut. Ms. Chatterjee, an engineer by profession, explains, “It represents a symbolic womb of nature, nurture, and nourishment. More than just being aesthetically pleasing, it serves as a powerful reminder of sustainability. This isn’t just an eco-friendly creation; it’s a zero-waste installation where every single component will be reused or repurposed after the festivities.”
The ingenuity of the design is evident throughout. Coconut shells have been transformed into beautiful lights and intricate background artwork. The exterior boasts decorations made from coconut husk, while the goddess and her children are adorned with exquisite jewelry fashioned from coconut shells. Dried coconut leaves form elegant crowns, ropes and leaves contribute to the interior decor, and even the asura’s neckpiece is crafted from coconut leaf stalks.
The initial concept for Nariyal Katha sparked during a post-Durga Puja Bijoya celebration. “I was distributing narkel naru (coconut sweets) last year when the idea came to me,” Ms. Chatterjee recounted. “We use coconuts in countless rituals – placing them on sacred pots, breaking them for new beginnings, and sharing sweets during joyous occasions. Yet, the coconut itself rarely receives the spotlight it truly deserves.”
The ambitious project took nearly 10 months from conception to completion, with intense hands-on work dominating the final three to four months. “Every element, from the wall patterns to the chandelier lights and even the goddess’s jewelry, was painstakingly hand-crafted,” Ms. Chatterjee elaborated. “It was particularly challenging and time-consuming to process and transform over 2,000 discarded shells, which we sourced from various markets, street food vendors, and confectioners, into these intricate creations.” Her dedicated team included skilled craftswomen from her organization, Twirl.store, known for its innovative “waste-to-wonder” products, alongside enthusiastic student volunteers from Chitraka of Techno India University.