A Festive Whodunit: Puja Pandals Celebrate Bengal’s Beloved Detectives

This Durga puja, Kolkata's streets are not merely festive, they also provide a peek into the world of Bengal's evergreen fictional sleuths who spark imagination, intellect, nostalgia, and above all, a feel-good entertainment.

From the pop-art-infused universe of Byomkesh Bakshi at Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha to the cinematic treasures of Satyajit Ray's Sonar Kella at Ballygunge 71 Pally, and the cerebral thrills of Bengal's legendary gumshoes at Kankurgachi Chalantika, devotees are in for a rare multisensory experience.

At Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha, the city's iconic detective Byomkesh Bakshi, created by Sharadindu Bandhopadhyay, steps into the kaleidoscope of the 1950s-60s pop-art world. Designed by Anirban Das, the pandal evokes a life-sized comic strip, where bold walls, graphic panels and painted characters transport visitors into a detective's world.

At the heart of the pandal lies a fictional story, titled ‘Shri Shri Durga Mandir Kanthahar Rahasshya’, which dramatises the theft of the goddess's necklace during puja. Adding a performative flourish, the installation Byomkesh er Diary stages live interpretations of 'Pather Kanta', with Ajit, the detective's inseparable companion, serving as narrator. Meanwhile, glimpses of his personal life, including interactions with Satyabati, add unprecedented theatrical depth.

At Ballygunge 71 Pally, the golden jubilee of Satyajit Ray's "Sonar Kella" takes centre stage. Under the guidance of Raju Sarkar, the historical Jaisalmer fort's towering ramparts dominate the street, while neighbouring buildings depict the film's most iconic scenes.

The ever-popular sleuth Feluda and his sidekicks counsin Topshe and thriller writer Jatayu traverse deserts, chase trains and navigate the adventurous world of young Mukul, whose childlike imagination inspires the interior décor. The doll-like Durga idol mirrors Mukul's imaginative world, while the film's signature music and dialogues echo through the pandal, letting visitors relive a cinematic classic half a century later.

Adding an intellectual thrill to the festival, Kankurgachi Chalantika Club unveils 'Tik-Tiki', a pandal celebrating Bengal's legendary sleuths. The narrative centrepiece, 'Hirer Haat Bodol' (Passing of the Diamond), depicts a high-stakes gemstone heist within a meticulously staged crime scene.

The installation brings together lionised detectives such as Feluda, Pandav Goenda, Mitin Maasi and Kiriti, alongside infamous literary criminals like Chintamani Chattopadhyay, Umapada Chattopadhyay, Gouri Mohan Chattopadhyay and Narayani. There's a cement mill, detailed signage and large guns pointing towards the audience.

Detailed architectural recreations of old Kolkata houses, accident scenes and dramatic lighting immerse visitors in the mechanics of deduction. A striking metaphor features a lizard atop Maa Durga's head cutting a net, symbolising detectives unravelling the web of crime.

Makorsha (the spider) embodies the criminal, while the 'do not enter' section simulates a crime scene which is cordoned off from visitors, heightening the aura of suspense and intrigue. Idols of Maa Durga and dramatic depictions of Mohish's (buffalo) demise with streams of red representing blood enhance the storytelling. Hues of crimson and cobalt throughout the pandal highlight the eternal struggle between good and evil.

Through art, props and layered symbolises, the pandals reimagine the pulse of crime and detection that runs deep in Bengali popular culture.