At Ramkrishna Nagar ground, the familiar world of Ganesh pandals is giving way to something that could feel straight out of a wizarding school. For the Ramkrishna Nagar Ganesh Utsav Mandal, this year’s theme is Harry Potter, with the sprawling installation recreating some of the most recognisable elements from the fictional world of Hogwarts. The pandal, which has been under construction for one-and-a-half months, is designed to take visitors through the Hogwarts experience.

 

The dormitory, the Great Hall and the iconic moving staircases will all find a place in the installation. At the heart of it, the Ganpati Murti will be seated inside a recreation of the Hogwarts library -- though with a distinctly Indian touch. Instead of the fictional world’s books, the shelves will feature depictions of Indian texts, including the Mahabharata. There are details designed to keep the setting constantly moving. A silhouette of Harry Potter riding a broomstick will move around the pandal, while Hagrid and Buckbeak will also be part of the elaborate display. Harry Potter movie screenings will continue through the celebrations. Rohit Lichade, a mandal member, said the choice of theme was driven partly by its familiarity. “Harry Potter is quite popular and everybody has seen it. The idea was to create a unique experience that people across age groups could enjoy,” Lichade said. For visitors, the pandal is intended to be more than a backdrop for the festival. It is a journey through a world many already know from the screen -- now rebuilt, piece by piece.