Kolkata’s Durga Puja is famous for turning entire neighbourhoods into open-air art galleries — and this year one green Durga Puja pandal is turning heads by turning waste into its message. The BC Block Residents’ Association in Salt Lake has built its golden jubilee pandal, themed “Jiyon Kathi”, almost entirely from discarded wood, cloth, twigs and bamboo, making environmental conservation the heart of the celebration.
Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata have long used their pandals as platforms for social messages. This year, the BC Block pandal takes that tradition into sustainable living: its structure demonstrates how materials that would otherwise be thrown away can be given a second life through creativity.
The theme: a folklore wand that restores life
“Jiyon Kathi” (জিয়ন কাঠি) draws its name from Bengali folklore — the magical wand said to restore life. According to the ANI news agency, the BC Block Residents’ Association chose the theme for its 50th-year celebrations to highlight the need to preserve greenery and encourage environmentally responsible practices.
Samrat Paul, joint secretary of the association, explained the idea behind the theme: “Our theme is ‘Jiyon Kathi.’ It signifies the need to preserve greenery; we ourselves are responsible for the high levels of pollution we see today.” He added that the pandal is meant to remind individuals and communities of their responsibility to safeguard the environment.
“Nothing should be discarded”
The pandal earned praise from West Bengal Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee, who visited the site and appreciated both its craftsmanship and its sustainable approach. He emphasised the importance of reusing materials instead of discarding them.
“There is a lesson here for society: nothing should be discarded. Even materials that might otherwise be considered useless, such as plywood, have been put to excellent use. It reminds us to pause and consider whether an item can be repurposed before throwing it away,” the minister said.
He encouraged people to reconsider their everyday habits and explore ways to reuse materials, thereby reducing waste.
A “Green Puja” beyond one pandal
BC Block’s effort is part of a wider green shift in Kolkata’s festival culture this year. An independent assessment of this year’s “Green Puja”, reported by The Plurals, rated BC Block’s Jiyon Kathi — built largely from waste wood and cloth — as the top eco-friendly installation in Salt Lake. The assessment also noted lead-free paints on the idols, fire safety arrangements and a sit-and-draw programme for mentally challenged children at the site.
Other neighbourhood committees joined the trend: organisers used jute, bamboo, coconut tree wood, clay, straw and leaves, with several committees planning to restore and reuse the materials in other pujas after the festival, according to the same assessment.
Meanwhile, the EC Block Residents’ Association in Salt Lake marked its own golden jubilee with a Durga Puja pandal inspired by the Mahabharata, bringing a mythological theme to this year’s celebrations.
Together, the pandals reflect Kolkata’s tradition of combining cultural heritage with messages of environmental protection, waste reduction and sustainability — encouraging millions of visitors to reflect on their responsibility towards nature.
For more on how people are making everyday life climate-friendly, see the Watan News English section.
FAKTA
- The BC Block Residents’ Association in Salt Lake, Kolkata, built its 50th-year Durga Puja pandal on the theme “Jiyon Kathi” — the life-restoring wand of Bengali folklore.
- The pandal uses waste wood, cloth, twigs, tree bark, bamboo and straw to promote greenery and environmentally responsible practices.
- West Bengal Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee praised the reuse of materials such as plywood.
- An independent “Green Puja 2026” assessment rated it Salt Lake’s top eco-friendly installation and noted lead-free idol paints.
- The story was reported by ANI on 17 October 2026 and independently covered by The Plurals and The India Print.
