Kolkata | September 20, 2025 04:12 PM IST 3 min readArtist Anirban Das, who designed the pandal, said the pandal is built like a giant comic strip. (Express photo by Partha Paul)This year, Durga Puja revellers will witness the coming together of two worlds at the pandal of Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha: the colours of 1950s-60s pop art and the timeless charm of Bengal’s favourite detective, Byomkesh Bakshi.Artist Anirban Das, who designed the pandal, said, “The pandal is built like a giant comic strip where every visitor feels as though they have stepped into the illustrated world of Byomkesh. From bold, graphic walls to painted characters accompanied by comic-style comment boxes, the entire space recreates the look and feel of a detective graphic novel.”At the heart of the pandal lies a fictional story, titled ‘Shri Shri Durga Mandir Kanthahar Rahasshya’. “In this narrative, the Durga idol becomes part of a detective mystery. The goddess’s necklace, or kanthahar, is stolen in the midst of Puja festivities, causing panic among devotees. With the crowd anxious and the committee desperate, only one man can unravel the truth, the Satyaneshi himself, Byomkesh Bakshi,” Das added.Adding to the pandal’s uniqueness is a giant book installation named ‘Byomkesh er Diary’. Visitors will watch as live performers flip through its pages, bringing Byomkesh Bakshi’s world to life. The stories are drawn from Pother Kata, one of author Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay’s celebrated works. Just like in the original novels, it is Ajit, Byomkesh’s trusted friend and narrator, who takes centre stage, guiding the audience through the detective’s adventures. Adding to the pandal’s uniqueness is a giant book installation named ‘Byomkesh er Diary’. (Express photo by Partha Paul)“For the first time in a pandal, Byomkesh’s personal life also finds a place. Artists portraying his wife, Satyabati, and Ajit will interact with the audience. This theatrical element ensures that the experience is not limited to static art but evolves into live storytelling. For fans of the detective, it offers the rare chance to step into a performance where literature, theatre, and visual art seamlessly blend.” Das added.Created by writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay in 1932, Byomkesh Bakshi was not called a detective but a satyaneshi, meaning truth-seeker. Over time, Byomkesh Bakshi became one of Bengal’s most beloved literary characters, often referred to as the ‘Indian Sherlock Holmes,’ but with a distinctly Bengali identity rooted in Kolkata’s lanes, households, and social realities.(Anisha Ghosh is an intern with The Indian Express)Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd