Durga Puja pandal worth Rs.1 crore in Delhi

A Durga Puja pandal in the national capital is being made on a whopping budget of Rs.1 crore ($162,000).

A 16-feet tall and 12-and-a-half feet wide Buddha idol, a 20-feet Durga idol and a 64-feet Eiffel tower replica are part of a Durga Puja pandal at Delhi's Panchkuian Road.

This makeshift monastery, made with an estimated budget of Rs.1 crore, marks the beginning of grand revelries that are to ensue.

Bringing Kolkata's festive fervour to the capital is Arambagh puja which is celebrating its silver jubilee, and to brighten up the festivities they have got together craftsmen and sculptors to build this giant structure that is carved out of wood.

The shining Buddha idol is made of mango leaves, diya, kohl case (kajal lata), brass water vessel (lota), and bael leaves -- ingredients of a "puja thali". The detailing on the idol has been done by Gaurang Kuila, and its estimated cost is Rs.25 lakhs.

"The committee members are in talks with the National Museum and the Crafts Museum, New Delhi, to preserve the huge art that has been created during this grand festival," said a press release issued by the organisers Tuesday.

The Maa Durga idol has been especially transported from Kolkata, and its approximate cost is Rs.5 lakhs.

"The idea is to give the capital a feel of the grand festival of Kolkata," Abhijeet Bose, president of Arambagh puja, said.

The interiors of the pandal will reflect nine faces of Durga and a 28-feet chandelier made of 400 bulbs will light up the area.