PATNA, Oct. 19 -- Patna has seen an 84% surge in temporary electricity connections for Durga Puja pandals over the past five years, rising from 365 in 2021 to 671 this year. According to data from the Patna Electricity Supply Undertaking (PESU), revenue from these connections has climbed 82% to reach Rs.27.80 lakh. The growth highlights the increasing power demand during the festival's peak period between Saptami and Navami, the concluding days of the 10-day Dussehra festival. The sharpest proportional increase was recorded in the Patna City electricity division, where the number of pandals rose more than six-fold, from 12 in 2021 to 73 this year. Danapur recorded the second-largest increase in absolute numbers, with connections rising from 24 to 98 over the same period, the data reveals. The figures reflect the expanding scale of Durga Puja celebrations across the state capital. Temporary metered connections help pandal organisers meet their electricity requirements during the festivities, particularly the four days from Saptami to Dashami, when footfall and power demand peak. PESU's West circle, comprising seven divisions: New Capital, Ashiana, Danapur, Khagaul, Dak Bungalow, Patliputra and Gardanibagh, recorded a sharper rise in temporary connections and revenue than its East counterpart, which includes Rajendra Nagar, Kankarbagh-1 and 2, Bankipur, Gulzarbagh and Patna City. The number of temporary electricity connections given to pandals in the PESU West circle increased 96%, from 191 in 2021 to 374 in 2026. In the East circle, the count rose 71%, from 174 to 297 during the same period. As compared to last year, the count was 27 up in PESU West and three in PESU East, with the overall number rising by 30. Revenue in the West circle climbed from Rs.9.21 lakh to Rs.17.39 lakh over the five-year period, an increase of about 89%. The East circle's collections rose from Rs.6.08 lakh to Rs.10.40 lakh, up around 71%. The West circle collected Rs.17.39 lakh this year, compared with Rs.16.11 lakh in 2025. The East circle's revenue also rose from Rs.9.61 lakh last year to Rs.10.40 lakh in 2026. Together, the two circles generated Rs.27.80 lakh this year, against Rs.25.73 lakh in 2025 and Rs.15.28 lakh in 2021. Patna City's temporary connections rose from 12 in 2021 to 50 in 2022 - the year after the coronavirus pandemic - and peaked at 82 in 2023. The count subsequently eased to 75 in 2024, 74 in 2025 and 73 this year. Danapur's numbers more than quadrupled, from 24 in 2021 to 98 in 2026, including a jump to 70 in 2022. Gardanibagh recorded an increase from 29 to 67 over the five years, adding six pandals over the previous year. The number of pandals nearly doubled in several other divisions during the last five years....