Kolkata's Durga Puja celebrations are well-known but Patna is not far behind when it comes to beautiful pandals and lavishness.
More than 500 puja samitis, big and small, are vying to outdo each other. These puja samitis spent crores for the special lighting effects and hiring expert pandal decorators and sculptors from West Bengal.
According to an estimate, around Rs 15 crore was spent on puja celebrations in the city alone this year.
There are over 500 puja pandals across the city and its suburban areas.
Though many Puja Samitis refused to divulge their budget, Arvind Singh of Sri Krishnapuri Durga Puja Samiti said, "We have a budget of Rs 3 lakh which includes pandal decoration, lighting, idol etc....People contribute generously for the Puja."
Durga Puja celebrations and its decorative pandals are well-known but Patna is not far behind with its beautiful pandals and lavishness.