Kolkata hosts White Temple of Thailand as puja theme

The White Temple of Thailand and the Ashtalakshmi Temple of Chennai have come alive in Kolkata Durga Puja pandals adding grandeur to the festivity.
In the Deshapriya Park Durga Puja, a huge replica of the White Temple of Thailand has come up on the ground drawing a huge crowd.
"We have sought to create the ambience of the White Temple located in Thailand's Mueang Chiang Rai district and is one of the tourist attractions of the country," a member of the puja committee said.
"We have sought to recreate the divine experience one feels while visiting the Thailand landmark," he said.

The pandal has fetched many awards.
The same theme was adopted at the Netaji Colony Lowland Puja at Baranagar in northern part of the city.

"Our presentation this year is themed on non-violence and peace. And what can be better than the White Temple which epitomises the philosophy of peace and harmony," an organiser said.
"We have incorporated certain additional features to the known interiors of the original White Temple of Thailand, taking references from the monasteries inside the pandal," he said.
Cultural programmes of Thailand are also being held at the puja premises.
At Ekdalia Evergreen puja, a crowd puller, Chennai's Ashtalakshmi Temple has been recreated.

"We had never opted for theme puja as our members and people in neighbourhood believed in organising pujas in traditional way. Traditional idol and illumination in the path leading to the pandal are well accepted by the people," state minister Subrata Mukherjee, associated with the puja, said.
"We are celebrating the 75th year this time and thought about presenting the architectural pattern of the famous temple in Chennai and it is drawing a huge crowd ever since its inauguration," he said.