Durga Puja has arrived, and once again, social media platforms are teeming with vibrant reels and photos showcasing the grandeur of Kolkata’s themed pandals. Sourya Roy, an information technology professional, finds himself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information surrounding the festivities. Seeking a solution, he turns to ChatGPT, asking it to craft a four-day pandal-hopping itinerary that covers displays across all corners of Kolkata. In mere seconds, the AI platform delivers a comprehensive and thoughtfully paced itinerary, complete with the most efficient routes to travel and an assortment of recommended eateries and food stalls along the way.
This year’s Durga Puja celebrations epitomize a fascinating convergence of tradition and technology. Over the years, the festival has evolved from a humble celebration of ancient customs into a cutting-edge celebration of art, culture, and now, technology. The integration of tools such as OpenAI, 360-degree virtual reality tours, and advanced 11D lighting have infused the festival with a new dimension of interactivity and immersion. Additionally, mobile applications devised to assist pandal hoppers, alongside the Kolkata Police’s recent unveiling of AI-enabled display boards broadcasting real-time waiting times outside major pandals, bring a newfound layer of technological prowess to the celebrations.
ThePujaApp, a prominent non-profit organization in Kolkata, serves as a testament to the festival’s digital evolution. The app offers complimentary VR tours of past and present puja pandals, which users can access via iOS, Android devices, or Oculus VR headsets. With an extensive archive encompassing over 300 previous Puja experiences, ThePujaApp has been enriching the city’s cultural fabric for 13 years.
Soumyajit Chakraborty, a project manager at EY in Ireland who has resided abroad for more than 15 years, shares a personal testimony: “Ever since relocating from India, I have relied on ThePujaApp’s VR tours to introduce my friends in Ireland to the splendor of Durga Puja. Thanks to the 15K quality resolution, the experience is incredibly lifelike. Typically, I use my iPhone to access it and either cast it onto my flat screen or pair it with my Oculus to wholly immerse myself in the Puja festivities.”
Recently, the founders of ThePujaApp extended an invitation to explore Durga Puja through the Oculus. The experience was akin to stepping into an elaborate art installation. Through the VR glasses, viewers are enveloped in 15k-resolution panoramas that precisely capture every nuanced brushstroke and intricate pattern adorning the pandals. The majestic presence of Ma Durga felt palpably real, while drone footage unveiled the elaborate pandal structures resembling celestial shrines against the Kolkata skyline. The harmonious blend of devotional hymns, the frenetic rhythm of dhaak drums, and the vibrant urban backdrop immerse participants deeply. Remarkably, this digital interface eradicates the crowds, allowing a serene and personal engagement.
. As the intricate pandal unfolded within the VR space, an X-ray screen identified the individual artists responsible for its creation.
Partho Ghosh, general secretary of Shibmandir Durga Puja and a member of the Durga Puja Forum, comments on the technological contributions: “Prior to Durga Puja, VR-savvy non-profit organizations like ThePujaApp collaborate with us to capture and digitally encapsulate the essence of our pandal. The high-resolution imagery plays a crucial role in helping artists identify and rectify subtle imperfections, thereby ensuring the idol and the pandal are impeccably completed.”
The Puja’s reach continues to expand worldwide. Arpan Chatterjee, a VR specialist and one of the app’s founders, asserts, “Our viewership numbers fluctuate between 4.5 to 5 million each year, with 15% of our audience comprising non-resident Indians in the United States. Our digital reach extends to families in distant locations like Bolivia and Chile, creating approximately 400,000 dedicated users globally. We curate an exclusive viewing experience, shielding viewers from the crowds to create an individualized and peaceful viewing.”
In Northern Kolkata, Santosh Mitra Square garners attention with its colossal spheroid pandal, modeled after the Las Vegas Sphere. Encompassing a mammoth 112 metres in height and 5,400 square metres in length, this dazzling installation employs 168,000 puck-sized LED lights and mesmerizing 11D spectacles. In a move motivated by safety concerns, this year’s organizers opted to discard previous laser and light shows that reportedly posed stampede risks.
Meanwhile, the Durga Puja Pandal Hopper continues to be a valuable resource for festival-goers. Boasting over 10,000 downloads from the Google Play Store and a consistent user rating since its 2018 inception, the free app provides high-resolution images of pandals across Kolkata and allows users to curate personalized wishlists using GPRS technology. Sabari Moulik, an app user, attests: “For the past two years, this app has simplified my pandal-hopping experience. Its traffic navigation suggestions and precise location information have become indispensable.”
As Durga Puja underscores Kolkata’s vibrant cultural tableau, it stitches the divine and digital into a seamless narrative. The deities still prepare for their descent, only now they navigate virtual platforms and digital domains, becoming an enigma woven through pixels, algorithms, and 11-dimensional lights. Technology, once perceived as an interloper, is now an integral narrator in the timeless tradition of the deity’s legend. For many attendees like Sourya, the AI-generated itinerary represents not merely a glimpse into the future of tradition but a tradition actively reclaiming the future.
