Ranchi, September 26: A major controversy has erupted in Ranchi after a Durga Puja pandal has been built on the theme of Vatican City. The pandal, set up by the RR Sporting Club Durga Puja Committee at Ratu Road, has triggered anger among several people and is being widely debated on social media.
The pandal, built at a cost of nearly ₹80 lakh, showcases replicas of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums. Statues and posters linked to Christianity have also been placed inside and outside the structure.
However, several people have objected to Christian symbols being displayed at a Durga Puja venue.
Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) strongly has strongly criticized the theme. National spokesperson of VHP Vinod Bansal has said the pandal has been “designed to hurt Hindu religious sentiments and promote conversion.”
He alleged that images of Mother Mary and other Christian figures were placed inside the pandal and warned that the Jharkhand unit of the VHP would soon take a decision on the matter. “We appeal to the organizers to respect Hindu sentiments and remove these Christian symbols,” Bansal said.
However, the RR Sporting Club has rejected the allegations and club president Vicky Yadav said: “We have been organizing Durga Puja for 50 years. Every year we choose a theme and this time we have recreated the Vatican City design that had attracted lakhs of visitors in Kolkata in 2022. Artisans from Kolkata were brought in for the work. The puja is being performed as per Vedic tradition, and our intention was never to hurt anyone’s feelings.”
He further claimed that people in Ranchi have also appreciated the grand design.
The Ranchi District Durga Puja Committee president also echoed his Yadav’s view, saying: “We live in a secular country. People of all communities enjoy Durga Puja. This is just a creative theme.”
