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Durga Puja is celebrated all over India, especially in West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar. We all love this festival and wait for a whole long year. If you are living in Kolkata, hope you will be excited as every year. Not only young an older generation, but kids love this festival, the most. During this time, they love to enjoy with their families and friends, they love to visit pandals and learn more about the Indian culture and tradition.

Are you a resident of Kolkata, Howrah? If yes, then you will be more excited about Durga Puja 2025. In this blog, we will let you know about the Howrah best CBSE school and also the art of Durga puja pandals, creativity, themes and traditions. 

Our school is named as the Kolkata International School. We are one of the reputed and best CBSE English medium school in Howrah. Our school is situated in Liluah, Howrah and follows CBSE curriculum. Like other schools, our school also gives freedom to children to enjoy their favourite festival. Our school remain close from the sixth day of puja until Dusshera. During this time, children visit pandals with their family and friends, enjoy delicious food,  play and do whatever they want to do. 

What are pandals?

Pandals are temporary decorative structure built only for Durga puja celebrations. At all over Kolkata, numerous pandals with different themes are built. All the pandals are built very beautifully. After visiting those pandals, children get to learn about the different things. 

Key features of pandals

• Temporary Architecture: Built from bamboo, cloth, and modern materials, then completely dismantled after the festival
• Artistic Masterpieces: Each pandal features unique themes, innovative designs, and sophisticated lighting systems
• Community Centres: Serve as gathering places for prayers, cultural programs, and social activities
• Creative Themes: Address contemporary issues like climate change, technology, social causes, or cultural heritage
• Competitive Art: Communities compete to create the most impressive and meaningful displays
• Immersive Experiences: Visitors enter these structures to experience art, devotion, and community spirit

Tradition behind the pandal

1. Idol making rituals - At the heart of the pandal is the pratima (idol) of Durga. Traditional idols are made from clay (sometimes soil from riverbeds), straw, cloth, bamboo frames, and natural dyes. The artisan’s skill is crucial: from shaping the clay into form, to painting the features, dressing the idol, and decorating with sholarsaaj or dakersaaj—the exquisite ornamentation styles of Bengal. 
2. Materials and crafts forms - Besides clay, what goes into a pandal includes bamboo scaffolding, fabric, papier-mâché, lights, papiermache, wood, shola (a milky white plant matter used for fine decoration), and increasingly eco-friendly or recyclable materials. Traditional crafts like carving, textile work, pottery, metal work and mural painting often contribute.
3. Cultural performance and community participation - Durga Puja is more than visual display. It is cultural immersion. Folk songs, dances like DhunuchiNritya, recitations, devotional music, and community feasts are integral. The pandal is a place where students, artisans, volunteers from all backgrounds contribute. School students often help in decoration, painting murals, organising programmes etc.

Balancing creativity and traditions

Creating a thematic pandal that still respects tradition is not simple. There are tensions and trade-offs.

• Budget and Resources: Elaborate themes and new materials cost money. Smaller puja committees or schools may find constraints.
• Skilled Craftsmanship: Traditional crafts are under pressure. Finding skilled shola workers, potters, mural painters etc., who can deliver intricate work in tight deadlines is difficult.
• Time: Planning, designing, sourcing materials, building—all take months. Scheduled rituals (like ChokkhuDaan on a specific day) cannot be delayed.
• Sustainability: Heavy use of plastics, non-degradable paints, or non-eco materials can harm environment. There is growing expectation for eco-friendly practice.

Conclusion

Durga Puja pandals are living works of art. Each year they embody a delicate dance between tradition and innovation. They are places of spiritual devotion, artistic creativity, cultural education, and social message. For students and communities, they offer rich opportunities—to learn, to observe, to create, and to celebrate.

Hope, this blog was beneficial for you. Admission open in Howrah for sessions 2026-2027 at our school. Also, admission for pre-primary school in Howrah open at our school. Visit theTKIS  website for more details.