Preparations for Diwali and Kali Puja are in full swing across Guwahati, with several puja committees putting together elaborate pandals highlighting Assam’s rich cultural heritage, traditions and historical identity.
Among the major attractions this year is an elaborate pandal designed by Vivekananda Sporting Club at Colony Bazar in Kalapahar. Built around the theme “Colour of Soil – Tea, Bamboo and Rang Ghar”, the pandal celebrates 200 years of Assam tea while bringing together some of the state’s most recognisable cultural and historical symbols.
The installation features representations of Assam’s tea heritage, the historic Rang Ghar, built during the Ahom era, and the state’s iconic one-horned rhinoceros. Through the theme, the organisers have sought to highlight the importance of Assam tea and the state’s cultural identity as part of this year’s Kali Puja celebrations.
According to Sashanka Chakraborty, an official of Vivekananda Sporting Club, around 1,500 bamboo poles have been used in the construction of the pandal. The club is celebrating its 62nd year of organising Kali Puja festivities.
“Assam tea has completed 200 years, and we have chosen the Assam Tea theme for our puja pandal,” Chakraborty said, adding that the structure also showcases the Rang Ghar and the one-horned rhino.
He further claimed that the club’s Kali Puja celebration was the biggest in the Northeast, drawing thousands of devotees every year.
The use of bamboo as a major construction material also reflects the organisers’ effort to incorporate traditional elements into the pandal’s design. Bamboo craftsmanship has long been associated with Assam’s rural life, architecture and indigenous traditions, making it an important part of the state’s cultural landscape.
Meanwhile, preparations are progressing at various locations across Guwahati, where artisans, decorators and puja organisers are working to complete the pandals ahead of the celebrations. Vibrant lighting arrangements, detailed bamboo structures and displays inspired by indigenous culture are among the prominent features of this year’s festivities.
The celebrations come as Assam marks two centuries of its tea heritage, an industry that has played a significant role in shaping the state’s economy, identity and presence in the national and international markets. By bringing Assam tea into the centre of its pandal theme, Vivekananda Sporting Club has linked a major religious celebration with an important chapter of the state’s history.
Diwali, popularly known as the festival of lights, is traditionally associated with the return of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and Rama’s victory over Ravana. The five-day festivities begin with Dhanteras, which is traditionally considered an auspicious occasion for purchasing gold, silver, vehicles, utensils and other items associated with prosperity and good fortune.
