The Youth Association of Mohammad Ali Park is pleased to celebrate its 57th anniversary this Durga Puja with the theme “Shakti Sagar” (The Ocean of Power), which speaks to the spirit of our times.

Fundamentally, Shakti Sagar is an homage to the divine feminine—the Goddess as Sovereign, Protector, and Nurturer—who uses artistic and symbolic storytelling to symbolize her strength. The pandal is seen as a contemporary take on a traditional temple, where women are celebrated as both goddesses and symbols of strength.

A glowing representation of Lord Krishna, clutching the eternal wheel of time, towers over the building, signifying the cosmic cycle, the beat of justice, and the balance between compassion and action.

Inside, guests are taken to a sanctum deep within the ocean, where devotion swells beneath the surface. With coral palaces, floating fish, and dancing dolphins—all of which evoke old temples long lost in time—the pandal changes into an aquatic paradise. In the midst of this breathtaking scenery, a small boat silently gathers trash and plastic, serving as a poignant reminder that worship is not complete without taking care of Mother Earth.

The puja committee hopes to raise awareness, devotion, and responsibility through this pandal, serving as a reminder that genuine worship involves more than just following rituals; it also entails preserving the environment in which we live.

Priyanka Dutta