Fabricated structure
A
pandal
in
India
and neighbouring countries, is a fabricated structure, either temporary or permanent, that is used at many places such as either outside a building or in an open area such as along a public road
[1]
or in front of a house.
[2]
[3]
This canopy or big tent is often used in a religious or other events that gathers people together, such as a
wedding
,
fair
,
exhibition
or
festival
.
In Hinduism
[
edit
]
In
Hinduism
, a
pandal
is a temporary structure set up to usually venerate the
god and goddess
such as
Ganesha
during
Ganesh Chaturthi
,
Krishna
during
Krishna Janmasthami
or the Goddess
Durga
during
Durga Puja
, known as
puja
pandal
.
[
clarification needed
these are only 2 examples
]
Pandals are also used for nonreligious activities. For instance, these
tents
are put up during cultural programs.
[4]
In Buddhism in Sri Lanka
[
edit
]
In a ritual unique to
Sri Lanka
,
Vesak thorana
pandals are set up during the
Vesak
festival,
[5]
with illuminated panels illustrated with episodes from the life of the
Gautama Buddha
and
Jathaka Katha
or stories based on
Buddhist culture
.
The fundamental concept of a Vesak Pandal is a creatively made, massive structure, decorated with a large number of lights and paintings mounted on a huge supporting structure. This supporting structure is traditionally built with
Puwak Gasa
(
Areca nut
trees). Creating the structure requires creativity, inventiveness and the high-level expertise of a number of artists and light-system electricians, not to mention funding and planning in advance. The goal is to create a very beautiful and colorful experience. Many different and dedicated groups of experts participating often pass down this work from generation to generation or master to student. With change of time, nowadays Pandols are constructed using
Scaffolding
, which doesn't require cutting down of "Puwak" Trees as a result.
The most significant part of this display uses simple techniques in an intelligent way to create lighting on the front of the pandal. Most of the time this is a 2D structure.
Other types of pandals
[
edit
]
Pandals are also set up during
Gammaduwa
(village rebirth) festivals, honouring the goddess
Pattini
.
[
clarification needed
Is this also only in Sri Lanka, only elsewhere, or both?
]
Pandal also refers to platforms from which people splash water during the new year celebrations of the
Thingyan
festival.
[6]
A pandal can also be a
ceremonial gate
, built to welcome visitors.
A city in the Nilgiris district of the state of
Tamil Nadu
is named
Pandalur
.
[
clarification needed
Is this city name's origin connected with pandals or is it only spelled similarly?
]
In
Bangladesh
, Pandals, traditionally known as
Shamiana
, are used in open field, outside mosques or
Eidgahs
for
Eid prayer
,
mehfils
for
Religious
and
Cultural
occasions
such as Milad,
Mezban
and
weddings
. Each year the national eidgah's entrance gets decorated in a new theme.
[7]
References
[
edit
]