Pandal

Durga Puja pandal at Lalbazar, Bankura

A pandal is fabricated structure, either temporary or permanent, in a religious ceremony, like wedding or public worship or a public gathering.

In Hinduism, it is a temporary structure set up to venerate the god Ganesha during Ganesh Chaturthi or the goddess Durga during Durga Puja, known as puja pandal.

Durga Puja Pandal with theatre performance, Matri Mandir, Safdarjung Enclave, Delhi, 2014

In Sri Lanka, Vesak thorang pandals are set up during the Vesak festival, with illuminated panels illustrated with episodes from the life of the Gautama Buddha and Jathaka Katha or stories based on Buddhist culture. This is very special for Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka is the only place we can find this kind of ritual. Basic concept of Vesak Pandal is a making Creative massive structures decorated with thousands of electric bulbs and large number of paintings mount on a huge supporting structure. This supporting structure traditionally build by Puwak Gasa (Arriconut trees) this is a very creative invention and high expertise of electricians participating to work out this, so many light systems flashing on the pandal face randomly time to time. It is very beautiful and colorful experience. Also different and dedicated expert group participating to this whole process and it comes passing through generation to generation or master to student. Most significant part of this is using simple but intelligent way to creates lighting systems on pandal face. Most of the time this is a 2D structure. Pandals are also set up during Gammaduwa (village rebirth) festivals, honouring the goddess Pattini.

Pandal (မဏ္ဍပ် or mandat in Burmese, from Pali mandapa) also refers to platforms from which people splash water during the new year celebrations of the Thingyan festival.

A pandal can also be a ceremonial gate, built to welcome visitors.

A city in The Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu state is named as 'Pandalur'