The nation is immersed in devotion as it celebrates Sharadiya Navratri and the arrival of Goddess Durga. In Ranchi, Jharkhand, Durga Puja pandals are being constructed with distinct and novel themes. The city is known for hosting some of the most remarkable and grand Durga Puja celebrations nationwide. The Bharatiya Yuvak Sangh in Bakri Bazaar, Ranchi, has constructed a grand Durga Puja pandal modeled after the world-famous Angkor Wat temple of Cambodia.
Extravagant pandals are being set up in various locations throughout Ranchi. The Panch Mandir Durga Puja Samiti in Harmu is building a replica of the Prem Mandir in Vrindavan. In contrast, a Durga Puja committee on Ratu Road, Ranchi, has constructed a Durga Puja pandal replicating the church in Vatican City, Italy. This particular pandal has become a source of contention even before its inauguration.
The controversy stems from the Durga Puja pandal’s design, which resembles the church in Vatican City, Italy. Vinod Bansal, the national spokesperson for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), expressed his objections on social media platform X. His post included videos of the pandal’s interior and exterior, criticizing what he sees as a manipulation of Hindu faith, beliefs, and religious sentiments. He further alleged that the Durga Puja pandal, under the leadership of JMM leader Vicky Yadav, has become a hub for religious conversion. The RR Sporting Club on Ratu Road, Ranchi, has effectively recreated Vatican City, Rome, for the installation of Goddess Durga’s idol.
The pandal’s design, which mirrors the Vatican City church, has also drawn disapproval. The interior displays images of Catholic religious figures and portrays individuals with the Christian cross. These features have fueled the controversy. VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal shared a video of the Durga Puja pandal on social media.
The RR Sporting Club on Ratu Road, Ranchi, has spent approximately 70 lakh rupees on the construction of the Durga Puja pandal, designed to resemble the church in Vatican City, Italy. This pandal has become a point of dispute among the public before its opening.
Following the controversy over the pandal’s design, the RR Durga Puja Samiti has removed those elements that Hindu organizations found objectionable. This decision was made to avoid causing offense to the devotees attending the Durga Puja celebrations.