With the arrival of Sharadiya Navratri and the worship of Goddess Durga, the nation is immersed in devotion. In Ranchi, Jharkhand, innovative Durga Puja pandals are being constructed, each with a unique theme. The city is known for its grand Durga Puja celebrations. The Bharatiya Yuvak Sangh, located in Bakri Bazaar, Ranchi, has built a Durga Puja pandal inspired by the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia.
Other spectacular pandals are being created across Ranchi. The Panch Mandir Durga Puja Samiti in Harmu is constructing a replica of the Prem Mandir in Vrindavan. However, a Durga Puja committee on Ratu Road in Ranchi has built a pandal resembling the Vatican City church in Italy, which has stirred controversy before its inauguration.
The controversy revolves around the design of the Durga Puja pandal, which mirrors the church in Vatican City, Italy. Vinod Bansal, the national spokesperson for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), raised objections on social media platform X. His post included videos showing the pandal’s interior and exterior, expressing concern over the alleged manipulation of Hindu faith and religious sentiments. He claimed that the Durga Puja pandal, led by JMM leader Vicky Yadav, has become a site for religious conversion. The RR Sporting Club on Ratu Road, Ranchi, has essentially recreated the entire Vatican City for the installation of Goddess Durga’s idol.
The pandal’s design, which emulates the Vatican City church, has sparked further debate. The interior includes images of Catholic religious leaders and depictions of individuals holding the Christian cross. These elements led to objections, with VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal sharing a video of the Durga Puja pandal on social media.
The RR Sporting Club on Ratu Road in Ranchi has invested approximately 70 lakh rupees in the construction of the Durga Puja pandal, designed to resemble the church in Vatican City, Italy. The construction has become a subject of controversy among devotees prior to its opening.
Following the controversy surrounding the design of the Durga Puja pandal, the RR Durga Puja Samiti has removed elements of the pandal that Hindu organizations had objected to, to prevent hurting the sentiments of devotees during the Durga Puja celebrations.