Guwahati: The Chatribari Durga Puja committee pandal will showcase the traditions, attire and identities of Assam’s 14 indigenous tribal communities this year.Standing over 60 feet tall, the pandal will highlight the cultural diversity of communities, including the Rabha, Mising, Bodo, Koch-Rajbongshi, Deori, Tea Tribes and Kachari, among others. The project has a budget of around Rs 18 lakh.“One of the major attractions will be the display of original traditional attire representing the different indigenous communities. The initiative aims to familiarise visitors with the distinctive clothing, customs and cultural practices of these communities, many of which remain relatively unfamiliar to younger generations,” said Babul Rajbongshi, cultural secretary of the puja committee.He said the pandal would also feature musical instruments associated with the indigenous communities. The theme, he added, would go beyond conventional decoration and allow visitors to learn about the cultural diversity that shapes Assam.By bringing different tribal identities together, the committee hopes to promote greater awareness, inclusivity and appreciation of the state’s indigenous traditions.“The opening has been planned for the sixth day of the festival during the evening hours,” he said.Artists have crafted two idols for the puja: a traditional clay idol and another made entirely of grains, pulses and spices. The latter was created by an artisan from Gossaigaon at a cost of around Rs 1.80 lakh.Committee members have been working for the past few months to complete the pandal.
