This time of the year is quite special for many around the world as we celebrate Durga Puja ( the worship of Goddess Durga). Durga Puja is a Hindu festival which marks the annual homecoming of Goddess Durga with her children and epitomises the victory of good over evil. The dates for this festive period can vary between September and November each year as per the Hindu calendars. This year the annual festival of Durga Puja will be celebrated between 15th and 24th October.
Durga Puja, also known as Sharodutsav, is a time for visiting the community pandals which are mostly beautifully designed structure created for the occasion with the idol of the Goddess occupying the worship area and the wider area for everyone offering prayers. Each community chooses a particular theme to show cause their creation from a Disney World to climate change to street foods and so on.
People visit the pandals wearing their best attires (mostly new), mingling with fellow worshippers, catch up with family and friends, and of course enjoy a lot of feasting. Last year I was in Kolkata, India during this festive period and it was a special few days to enjoy the celebration with family. UNESCO inscribed “Durga Puja in Kolkata” on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.
The city of Kolkata is entirely transformed during this festive period into a dazzling piece of art. The pandals and images are made based on various themes and it is kind of a huge competition which group did the best. It is quite difficult to describe the vibes of the Puja unless you have experienced it in person. It is a combination of art, architecture, illumination, festive spirit and people everywhere. The area surrounding the pandals are filled with vendors selling everything from knick knacks to delicious street foods of Kolkata.
As a kid when I grew up in small towns of India, Durga Puja was not such a huge affair for us. We were not so fussed about wearing new clothing items but it was more about collecting flowers during the early hours of the morning, making garlands for worship, helping in various Puja activities in the pandal and of course enjoying the common feast where everyone was served bhog, which is special puja food offerings made mainly of khichuri (rice and lentils cooked together with spices), laabra (a mish-mash of mixed vegetable curry), chutney and sweets.
The nine nights of worshipping Goddess Durga is also called Navratri and it ends with Vijayadashami on the 10th day. On the last day of Durga Puja Goddess Durga and her children are immersed in water (visarjan) with prayers, hope and anticipation for a better year and the countdown to next Puja starts. In some parts of India the 10th day is celebrated as Dussehra during which the effigy of Ravana, the demon king is burned. The performance of the story of Lord Rama, called Ramlila during Dussehra was inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.
In the state of West Bengal in India, Durga Puja is followed by Lakshmi Puja, on the full moon day which is then followed by Kali Puja and Diwali on the new moon day. In Bengal there is a saying, “baaro maashe tyaro parbon” which roughly translates to “thirteen festivals in twelve months” which is quite true as India is a land of festivals. Through out the year from north to south, east to west every state celebrates some festival.
Hope you enjoyed this short write up and the Kolkata Durga Puja photos. A very Happy Durga Puja to all who are celebrating. As we say in West Bengal, Subho Sharodiya 🙏🏼.
HELPFUL HINTS:
- If you travel to India during this festive season it is good to book flights and hotels in advance.
- The Puja Pandals can be quite crowded and some can have very long queues, so patience is key.
- It is good to book some local guide if you are visiting for the first time.
- And the best way to enjoy the festive vibe is to go with the flow, literally!
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Excellent. Very timely indeed.
Thank you very much.