The two famous pandals of Kolkata have decided to go solar this year, and are bent on spreading the message on keeping the environment clean and green. While the Chaltabagan pandal will have its insides decked up with solar lights, the BD Block pandal will keep its exteriors illuminated with solar panels.

"Puja is a time when one has the opportunity to spread a socially-relevant message. We came up with the idea of making people aware of the solar energy appliances that one can use to protect environmental degradation," said Ashok Jaiswal, vice-president, Manicktala Chaltabagan Durga puja committee.

The mounting concern to arrest environmental degradation resulting from traditional dependence on fossil fuel has led to the importance of shifting focus to harness renewable energy resources.

Both Manicktala Chaltabagan and Salt Lake BD Block have approached the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA), a state-level nodal agency under the department of Science and Technology and Non-Conventional Energy Sources, to help them out in their attempt to popularise green energy concept. With the help from WBREDA, the committees have tied up with private companies to hire energy lighting devices.