PATNA, Oct. 19 -- Every year, Patna transforms into a vivid labyrinth of light and devotion as hundreds of pandals emerge across the city's thoroughfares. While many rise, only a few capture the city's collective imagination. This season, the competition has intensified as organisers turn to iconic architecture, from ancient temples to royal palaces, to craft elaborate replicas. Whether drawing early-morning queues or midnight crowds, these ambitious recreations, ranging from the historic Badi Patan Devi to towering tributes to Khajuraho, Madurai, and Mahakaleshwar, prove that in Patna, faith and architectural grandeur share the same stage Devotees are flocking to Patna's Badi and Choti Patan Devi temples this Navratri, with crowds gathering from 3 a.m. to catch a glimpse of the deities. As one of the world's 51 Shakti Peethas, the temple holds deep religious significance, drawing thousands to worship the black stone idols of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati. The stones, along with statue of Bhairava, are worshipped with great pomp and show every year during Navratri. Temple authorities emphasise the site's unique status. Temple priest Vijay Shankar Giri said, "The goddess is also known as the "City protector." We believe that she visits the city at night, and the sound of anklets can be heard in the temple at midnight during Navratri." The shrine remains central to the city's Durga Puja celebrations, marked by its unique rituals, including the perpetual maintenance of the sacred havan kund. Giri said that the Patan Devi Temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths in the world. This year, the Dak Bungalow Road Durga Puja pandal is set to captivate crowds with a grand 'Khajuraho temple' theme. Standing at a height of 800 feet and spanning 55 feet in width, the structure showcases intricate craftsmanship by a team of decorators from Kanthi, West Bengal. Puja committee president Sanjiv Prasad Tony noted that the aesthetic vision was brought to life by Kolkata Art College artist Ritesh Chatterjee. The centerpiece, an idol of Maa Durga, is the work of acclaimed Kolkata sculptor Jagannath Pal, who has been crafting the deity for this pandal for 31 years. At Doman Bhagat Lane in Kadamkuan, the 50-year-old Sri Sri Navyuvak Puja Committee is marking its golden jubilee with a striking replica of the Madurai Mahalakshmi temple. Standing 65 feet high and 40 feet wide, the pandal serves as a grand setting for the installation of 'Bharat Mata.' This year's structure brings together skilled artisans from West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Celebrating 57 years of tradition, this year's pandal takes inspiration from Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple. The structure stands at 108 feet in both height and width. Inside, the centerpiece is an 18-foot-tall idol of Maa Durga, while the installation of a sacred Shivalinga of Mahakaleshwar Baba and a statue of Nandi Maharaj serve as key attractions. Complemented by elaborate special lighting, the site will be a key spectacle for devotees this year. At the Housing Board in Hanuman Nagar, just behind Malahi Pakadi in Kankarbagh, a 'Mount Kailash' themed pandal has been erected, crowned by a 22-foot-tall statue of Lord Shiva. The structure promises a visual experience for devotees, illuminated in nine different hues. The lighting display will feature a mix of running, beam, disco, and fox lights. Near the Mithapur canal, a replica of the Dakshineshwari Kali temple stands as a key attraction; constructed by 20 West Bengal artists over the past month, it rises 60 feet in height and spans 25 feet in width. Meanwhile, on Kannu Lal Road, the spirit of Rajasthan takes center stage, where another team of 20 West Bengal artisans has recreated the Salasar Balaji temple. This year, the Punaichak Puja committee has unveiled a grand pandal modeled after a European royal palace, standing as a structure of 122 feet in height and 50 feet in width. The festivities, overseen by committee president Akash Kumar, include a special Mata Jagaran event scheduled for Ashtami. The committee has arranged for two kilometers of elaborate lighting with a 15-foot-tall idol of the Goddess. A 212-foot-tall replica of the Jagannath temple is set to be a highlight of this year's celebrations. Crafted by 80 artisans, the 120-foot-wide structure will feature a 3D mapping show, as confirmed by committee president Muni Yadav. Through the use of lighting, the pandal will showcase visuals of Goddess Durga, as well as religious scenes of the Puri temple, Lord Jagannath, and the Rath Yatra. The puja committee in Patna City has unveiled a pandal modeled after the Swaminarayan Temple in the United States.Conceived and designed by students from classes 9 and 10, the project showcases the creative vision of Gen Z and Gen Alpha artists....