Patna: A Durga Puja pandal in Patna’s Sampatchak Bazar is being constructed as a replica of the famous Prem Mandir in Vrindavan, standing 110 to 115 feet tall and crafted by a team of Muslim artisans from West Bengal.
According to Mukesh Kumar, in charge of the Yuva Mandali Sampatchak Bazar Puja Committee, last year’s pandal was among the tallest in Patna, prompting the organisers to opt for an ambitious design this year. “We decided to create a replica of the Prem Mandir and invited artisans from Jamtara to execute the work,” he said.
The project, expected to cost between Rs 35 and Rs 40 lakh, is being funded through voluntary contributions from local traders and social workers. A team of 50 to 60 artisans, led by head craftsman Mohammad Ikram, has been working for two months and is expected to finish within the next three days.
Ikram confirmed that all the artisans are from Muslim families. “For years, we have travelled across India and abroad to build pandals based on photographs or designs wherever we are invited,” he said.
