Bipin Dani
For Sourav Ganguly fans, the pavilion balcony at Lord’s in London is more popular. Ganguly, who was a captain then had taken his shirt off in the heat of the moment because he was happy seeing his Team India’s victory against England in the Final of the NatWest Series.
A 20-year-later, the replica of the Lord’s balcony was constructed in Kolkata and the BCCI president inaugurated it on Tuesday. “Sourav Ganguly’s birth anniversary is on July 8 (1972). This year we wanted to celebrate Sourav Ganguly’s 50th post birthday in a different and unique way and thought of erecting Lord’s pavilion with whom he has fond memories and the best timing was the Navratri festivals in West Bengal’’, Mahadev Chakrobarty Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), attached to Detective Department, said.
He is also the Secretary of Garia Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee Nabadurga organised by Garia Mitali Sangha, where this pandal is erected.
“Durga Puja is a very popular festival in this part. This puja is styled as Garia Nabadurga in South Kolkata. This is the 82nd year of our puja. Every year we design some spectacular presentations”. “We invited Sourav Gangully this year and he readily accepted our request and attended the inauguration programme on 27 th September 22. It was indeed a very proud and historic moment for us”.
The Lord’s pavilion replica has been designed by Tanmoy Chakraborty, who is an art director in the film industry. “This is my first experience of designing a pandal on a cricket theme. I was very thrilled and excited to get this assignment, which with my team-mates, we could finish in 17 days”, he said.
“Various aesthetic wooden and other construction materials are used. This is a temporary structure and will be removed after the festival season”.
