As the resplendent festival of Durga Puja sweeps over the city of Kolkata, the buzz on social media is palpable, with vibrant reels and photos capturing the splendor of the city’s thematic pandals. Amidst this digital chatter, Sourya Roy, an IT professional, finds himself overwhelmed by the flood of information. Seeking clarity, Sourya turns to ChatGPT, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence platform, for assistance. In mere seconds, the AI generates a comprehensive, four-day itinerary, guiding him through pandal-hopping journeys across North, South, East, and West Kolkata. This plan is complete with optimal travel routes and curated dining suggestions to ensure a seamless exploration.
The 2023 Durga Puja embraces a sophisticated technological evolution, intertwining age-old traditions with modern advancements. What was once a humble observance has transformed into a grand celebration of art, culture, and technology. OpenAI, 360-degree virtual reality (VR) tours, intricate 11D lighting displays, and interactive sound and light shows have collectively enriched the festival, turning it into an immersive spectacle. The introduction of AI-enabled real-time display boards by Kolkata Police is a groundbreaking step that contributes to the festival’s technological advancements by displaying live wait times outside major pandals.
A noteworthy contributor to this digital enhancement is ThePujaApp, a non-profit organization that offers free VR tours of past and present Durga Puja pandals. Accessible across both iOS and Android devices and adaptable for VR headsets like the Oculus, the organization boasts an archive of over 300 pujas documented over 13 years. Soumyajit Chakraborty, a project manager from EY living in Ireland for over 15 years, expresses his gratitude for ThePujaApp’s offerings. “Moving away from India, sharing Durga Puja’s magic with friends became possible through ThePujaApp. Their 15k resolution VR tours provide an extraordinary, near-tangible experience,” he explains, describing how he utilizes an iPhone or Oculus to delve into Kolkata’s vibrant festivities from afar.
Experiencing a Durga Puja through an Oculus headset feels akin to stepping into a grand art installation. As vivid 15k resolution panoramas captivate the senses within the VR environment, idol and pandal intricacies become profoundly tangible, enhanced by the sensation of soaring drone footage. Users are transported to a serene space absent of crowds, where an X-Ray screen reveals artists’ contributions to the pandal’s creation.
. Partho Ghosh, general secretary of Shibmandir Durga Puja, emphasizes the value of these detailed digital captures for artisans, aiding in the refinement of their craftsmanship.
One of ThePujaApp’s founders, Soumyaditya Mukherjee, highlights their mission to extend Durga Puja’s immersive experience globally. Arpan Chatterjee, a VR specialist and fellow founder, notes that the platform garners 45-50 lakh views annually, with significant engagement from the United States. “Our audience includes Indian families as distant as Bolivia and Chile. A ‘cult’ following of four lakh users worldwide embraces our depiction devoid of crowds, creating an intimate and uninterrupted experience,” he elaborates.
In the northern part of the city lies Santosh Mitra Square, mesmerizing visitors with its colossal, emotion-driven spheroid inspired by the Las Vegas Sphere. Embellished with 1,68,000 LED lights, this 112-meter high sphere presents captivating 11D visual spectacles. Previous years’ laser and light shows have been discontinued to ensure visitor safety, preventing overcrowding issues.
For those navigating the pandal-hopping frenzy, the Durga Puja Pandal Hopper app is a practical tool. This application, available on the Google Play Store with over 10,000 downloads, rates a consistent three out of five stars. It provides high-resolution glimpses of Kolkata’s pandals, enabling users to curate personal itineraries and access real-time traffic updates. Sabari Moulik, a dedicated app user, finds it invaluable for bypassing traffic and simplifying their pandal-hopping experience by offering precise location details and even tracking suburban pujas.
As the curtain falls on another exquisite Durga Puja season, Kolkata continues to weave divine elements with digital innovations onto its rich cultural tapestry. The timeless deities still grace the city, now arriving on virtual chariots—reflected through fibre-optic rays and digital screens. Technology, no longer a foreign intrusion, plays the role of a modern storyteller—preserving the deity’s legends through pixels, algorithms, and multidimensional lightscapes. As Durga prepares to make her celestial descent, revellers like Sourya, equipped with AI-guided plans, seize the day. This integration of tradition with technology embodies not merely the future of tradition but enhances tradition itself by boldly reclaiming the future.
