Temporal Transformation on the Built Form Along the Urban Edge of Kolkata: A Case of Hatibagan Para Durga Puja Pandals

Abstract

Urban spaces are shifting land scapes, shaped by both permanent structures and fleeting events that constantly redefine them. Each year, during Durga Puja, the streets of Kolkata transform into a spectacle of art and devotion. Elaborate temporary structures known as pandals, carefully crafted in honour of the Hindu Goddess Durga, emerge throughout the city. This research examines the complex interplay between these temporal interventions and Kolkata’s permanent urban fabric,particularly focusing on the Hatibaganpara. Drawing on Aldo Rossi’s perspectives on the city’s collective memory and the lasting significance of urban art facts, this study investigates how the festival of Durga Puja are shapes Kolkata’s physical and social landscapes. Using case studies, interviews and surveys of primary stakeholders, photographic documentation, and architectural analysis, it explores the impact of the pandals on spatial configuration, movement patterns and community identity. The paper highlights the unique characteristics of Kolkata’s architecture that demonstrate its ability to accommodate a temporary event and its interventions on such alargescale. This study claims that temporary urban events, represented by the Durga Puja, have a lasting influence on Kolkata’s urban identity. By analyzing the architectural elements that facilitate this extraordinary festival, the research emphasizes the power of the Indian built environment in shaping cultural expression, strengthening the community, and enhancing the lived experience of urban public space.