TLDR: Durga Puja 2025 in Kolkata is witnessing a significant integration of artificial intelligence, highlighted by a viral ‘Nano Banana’ AI art challenge and several pandals adopting AI-centric themes, exploring its impact as both a boon and a bane.
Kolkata’s grand Durga Puja celebrations in 2025 have taken a futuristic turn, with artificial intelligence playing a prominent role in both digital art trends and elaborate pandal designs. The festival, renowned for its blend of tradition and contemporary creativity, is showcasing how technology can intertwine with cultural festivities.
One of the most unexpected and viral phenomena this year is the ‘Nano Banana’ AI art craze. Originating as a quirky social media challenge, enthusiasts are using AI image generators like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or MidJourney to create surreal and humorous visuals by incorporating the phrase ‘Nano Banana’ into their prompts. This has resulted in imaginative depictions such as banana-shaped pandals, Goddess Durga idols holding bananas instead of traditional weapons, and other meme-worthy reimaginings of festive icons. This digital challenge quickly evolved from a joke into a citywide creative movement, with images widely shared across platforms, mobile exhibits at pandal venues, and even AI image competitions for young visitors. The trend is celebrated for its fun, accessibility, and the touch of humor it brings to the celebrations.
Beyond the digital realm, several Durga Puja pandals across Kolkata have embraced AI as their central theme, sparking reflection and discussion. The Jagat Mukherjee Park pandal, for instance, stands out with its daring and contemporary theme: ‘Artificial Intelligence: Boon or Bane.’ Designed by artist Subal Pal, this pandal masterfully fuses mythology with futurism, creating a visual dialogue between divine wisdom and technological power. The pandal’s setting resembles a gigantic time machine, featuring towering structures, distorted keyboards hanging from the ceiling, and projections of a robotic cityscape. Inside, installations such as multiplexer circuits, rows of diodes, breadboards, and server racks illustrate the hardware backbone of modern technology. At the heart of this advanced setup, the traditional idol of Maa Durga is prominently placed, signifying that divinity remains central even in an increasingly mechanized world. Notably, Mahishasura, the buffalo demon, is represented as the darker face of AI, symbolizing the risks of manipulation, blind dependence, and loss of control that unchecked technology can pose.
Also Read:
- United Nations Inaugurates Global Dialogue on AI Governance to Shape Future of Artificial Intelligence
- Translating AI Ethics into Actionable Governance Frameworks: A 2025 Imperative
Kolkata’s Durga Puja 2025 is characterized by a fusion of culture, tradition, and contemporary creativity, with over 3,000 pandals across the city redefining how Bengal celebrates its biggest religious and cultural event. This year’s festivities blend innovative eco-themes, artificial intelligence art, and vibrant social commentary, making it a dynamic celebration that speaks to Bengal’s past, present, and future. The widespread adoption of AI in various forms during this festival is emblematic of Kolkata’s ever-evolving artistry, demonstrating a harmonious integration of tradition and technology.
