A chess themed Durga Puja at Panchanantala, West Bengal

by Arindam Mukherjee - 30/10/2021

Chess is everywhere. A chess player sees chess everywhere from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to sleep. Some even dream about chess games and positions. How far would a chess player go for chess? All chess player and enthusiasts know the answer, to anywhere and everywhere. Arindam Mukherjee, an IM-norm holder and with a wealth of chess experience of over four decades, travelled 80 km in a day to witness an artistic creation of a chess-themed Durga Puja pandal on 15th October 2021, at Panchanantala in Hooghly district of West Bengal. A pictorial report of his experience. Photo: Anirban Chattopadhyay

Chess is everywhere

In my over four decades of visiting various Durga Puja pandals across West Bengal, I had yet to come across a chess themed one where chess was not just another sport represented as a pictogram but the main and primary theme of it.

Chess themed Durga Puja pandal at Panchanantala, Hooghly, West Bengal | Photo - Anirban Chattopadhyay

Since there are no tournaments taking place anytime soon in the vicinity, on the day of বিজয়া দশমী (Vijaya Dashami), I decided to go visit this with my longtime friend Pradip Ghosh and the one who told me about this, Partha Pratim Manna.

L to R - Saikat Mullick, Pradip Ghosh, Partha Pratim Manna and Arindam Mukherjee

A panoramic view of the chessboard both inside and outside of the pandal | Photo: Anirban Chattopadhyay

Another panoramic view of the chessboard on both side of the street | Photo: Anirban Chattopadhyay

A bird's eye view | Photo: Arindam Mukherjee

How many checkmates can you spot here? | Photo: Arindam Mukherjee

Some more diagrams on the wall and roof | Photo: Arindam Mukherjee

Humanity's triumph over all natural and unnatural evil forces is the motto of the Panchanantala organizing committee | Photo: Arindam Mukherjee

Speaking with ChessBase India, Mr. Anirban Chattopadhyay, one of the core committee members shared the reason behind choosing this theme, "There are two sides to it. One of them is to portray the triumph of the evil side of the human nature, and we also wanted to promote the sport. We felt that chess should also be highlighted as a sport among the common people. That is why, the theme was named, 'কিস্তিমাত' (Checkmate)."

Chess is everywhere! | Video: Arindam Mukherjee

Best Idol and Rotaract - Top Social Active Club are some of the prizes won | Photo: Anirban Chattopadhyay

Best Puja of the District, Top 30 of 2021 and Sharod Warrior Recognition are some more prizes won | Photo: Anirban Chattopadhyay

Some more prizes won by Panchanantala Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity | Photo: Anirban Chattopadhyay

Visual Excellence award winner by Indian Festival

About the Author

Arindam Mukherjee is a member of Eastern Railway chess team. He won the West Bengal State Senior championship in 2008. He was appreciated for his eye-catching performance for winning the Railways individual championship in 2013. He has triumphed in several open tournaments - Sangli (2004), Guwahati, Siliguri, Assam and more. Not only that, but he also has scored his maiden IM-norm at Delhi in 2009.