The fervor of Sharadiya Navratri and the arrival of Goddess Durga have enveloped the nation in devotion. In Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, Durga Puja pandals are being constructed based on unique and diverse themes. The city holds a special place in the grand Durga Puja celebrations across the country. The Bharatiya Yuvak Sangh in Bakri Bazaar, Ranchi, has built a magnificent Durga Puja pandal modeled after the world-famous Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia.
Various grand pandals have been erected in different locations throughout Ranchi. The Panch Mandir Durga Puja Samiti in Harmu has replicated the Prem Mandir of Vrindavan. Meanwhile, the Durga Puja committee on Ratu Road, Ranchi, has constructed a pandal resembling a church in Vatican City, Italy, which has become a subject of controversy even before its inauguration.
Controversy has erupted over the construction of a Durga Puja pandal in Ranchi that mirrors a church in Vatican City, Italy. National spokesperson of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Vinod Bansal, raised objections and shared a post on social media X. The post included videos of the exterior and interior of the pandal, questioning how the government is allegedly playing with the faith, beliefs, and religious sentiments of Hindus. He alleged that the Durga Puja pandal, under the leadership of JMM leader Vicky Yadav, has become a hub for religious conversion. The RR Sporting Club on Ratu Road, Ranchi, has essentially recreated Vatican City, Rome, for the installation of the idol of Goddess Durga.
The pandal’s interior and exterior, modeled after the church in Vatican City, have drawn criticism. The pandal features pictures of Catholic religious figures and depicts individuals holding the Christian symbol of the cross. These elements have fueled the controversy. VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal posted a video of the Durga Puja pandal, designed to look like a church, on social media, expressing his objections.
The RR Sporting Club in Ratu Road, Ranchi, has invested approximately 70 lakh rupees in constructing the Durga Puja pandal, which is modeled after the church in Vatican City, Italy. The construction has become a source of contention among devotees even before its inauguration.
In response to the controversy surrounding the pandal’s design, the RR Durga Puja Samiti has removed elements of the pandal that Hindu organizations had objected to, to avoid hurting the sentiments of devotees visiting during the Durga Puja celebrations.