RG Kar to bullet trains: Kolkata Ganesh pandal showcases Bengal’s ‘transition’ after polls

As the BJP government takes office in Bengal, a Ganesh Puja pandal has become the center of attention, showcasing the administration's performance in its first four months. Featuring an 11-foot idol by renowned artist Mintu Pal, the pandal employs a 3D contrast wall to highlight the state's transition and to celebrate major milestones like the RG Kar movement and Lionel Messi's visit.

The Executive Palace Apartment Owners Association in Baguiati, located along VIP Road, is organizing the Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 celebration under the theme "Parivartan – towards a developed Bengal with a double-engine government." Ganesha is adorned in a white kurta and orange pagdi, symbolizing responsibility, visionary leadership, and good governance.

The six divine hands of the idol represent the core structural pillars required for a thriving state. A striking feature of the venue is the 10 ft x 10 ft 3D contrast wall, which serves as a visual ledger of the state's transition. The display divides the celebration into two sections: "Before May 4" and "After May 4." The first section outlines high-profile issues and challenges such as logistical chaos during Lionel Messi's visit, the R G Kar movement, Bangladesh border fencing concerns, and cow trafficking.

The second section presents a vision of rapid progress, showcasing the New Delhi-New Jalpaiguri bullet train, industrial expansion, and the demolition of illegal constructions. Organizers emphasize the Orange Line Metro, the Chingrighata bottleneck, and the demolition of illegal buildings. Ankit Agarwal, secretary of the association, expressed the theme's purpose: "Our Parivartan theme aims to transition from challenges to possibilities, fostering a progressive, confident, secure, and opportunity-rich Bengal.

Through our art, we seek to demonstrate how development can enhance the daily lives of people, with improved connectivity, modern infrastructure, industrial growth, employment opportunities, urban planning, and stronger governance." The six-day celebration, beginning on Ganesh Chaturthi, involves devotion, art, community participation, and a visual message centered on transformation, progress, and the aspiration for a developed Bengal. The festivities will conclude with a resident Hawan and the traditional Ganesh Visarjan.