Overview

• As Navratri continued with Day 4 worship on September 25, national listings placed Durga Puja from September 27 to October 2, while PTI reported several Jharkhand pandals opening to the public from September 28.
• Patriotic installations took center stage, with Ranchi’s Mahashakti and Netaji Nagar committees and Kolkata’s Santosh Mitra Square adopting ‘Operation Sindoor’ themes that depict the Pahalgam attack and India’s military response.
• Large-scale builds drew on West Bengal craftsmanship, including a roughly 50,000 sq ft Ranchi pandal costing about Rs 70 lakh and a 110‑foot Angkor Wat replica, alongside multiple temple and museum recreations across the state.
• Cultural programming expanded beyond rituals, as a Purulia Chhau troupe and Baul singer scheduled multi-venue performances across Mumbai, and Nagpur’s Rani Laxmibai Mandal showcased a 12‑foot idol with nightly concerts and community volunteer management.
• Hyderabad highlighted its growing Navratri profile with SVARA’s park-sized pandal built by Kolkata artisans and promoted through professional staging and social media outreach.