Durag Purga 2019 celebrations in Kolkata

Shikha GautamShikha Gautam,TRAVEL TRENDS, INDIA Updated : Oct 22, 2020, 11:15 IST

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Durga Puja chronicles

Durga Puja, a ten-day-long Hindu festival, celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over an ancient demon named Mahishasura and his evil attendants. While the festivities take a brilliant turn from the sixth day, all the ten days bring together people from diverse faiths to mark evil’s downfall. Also hailed as a celebration of female power, this festival culminates on Dussehra with Durga visarjan.

Durga Puja in Kolkata is, of course, an extravaganza that should not be missed. The photos here will take your through a pictorial journey of India's most widely celebrated festival.

While there are no elaborate pandals at most places this year due to COVID-19, there is no taking away from the sheen on one of India's biggest festivals.

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The making of celebrations

Preparations for traditional Durga Puja celebrations, at places such as Kolkata’s Kumortuli and Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park, begin months before the actual puja. Delhi too has its share of grand Durga Puja Celebration, which ca be experienced at various venues. These colonies see artisans working at idols of Goddess Durga, making fascinating pieces out of clay. Photographers’ too make a beeline for these colonies to catch these artisans’ life at work.

Durga Puja in Delhi is expected to take the spectacle to a new high altogether.

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Pandal hopping

Your Durga Puja celebrations wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of the puja pandals. Grand, splendid structures spring up in cities across India, inviting devotees to join in the celebrations. Places such as Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Cuttak, Mumbai see themed pandals vying for the best pandal awards! Puja celebrations wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of the puja pandals. Grand, splendid structures spring up in cities across India, inviting devotees to join in the celebrations. Places such as Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Mumbai see themed pandals vying for the best pandal awards!

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Shashti puja

Visiting a pandal or a temple on the sixth day of Durga Puja is a must for the main idol’s eyes are painted on the day. It symbolises infusing of life in the idol Durga Puja in Kolkata is the best to witness this tradition. Also known as Bodhon, this day sees unveiling of the idol’s face. Puja ceremonies reach a crescendo after the ritual, continuing till Dussehra. There are myriad temples in Kolkata, such as Kalighat Kali Temple and Dakshineshwar Kali Temple where Shashti Puja is celebrated with must enthusiasm and fervor.

All the Durga puja pandals, especially the ones in Kolkata, see huge crowds on this day.

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Dhunachi nritya

Cultural performances during Kolkata Durga Puja start right after the evening arti in most of the pandals. A fine mix of traditional music and dance (Dhunachi Nritya, these performances woo devotees in droves. The revelries continue late into the night, with people dancing to the tunes of dhak, a traditional drum-like instrument.

North Kolkata Durga Puja pandals boast of hosting some of the best of these performances.

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Pandals, a community affair

More than a gathering, Durga Puja pandals across India are a community affair, wherein people from all faiths and religions are welcome. As the festive air takes over, the pandals become the buzzing ground, more on the lines of the famous Ganeshutsava. Delicious food spreads and other stalls are an added high to the colours of puja pandals, and are not to be missed.

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Sandhi puja

Ashtmi, the most auspicious day of the puja, brings in a visual treat. Pandals and houses of the devotees see 108 prayer lamps burning bright to celebrate the slaying of Mahishasura and it is the most significant practices of traditional Durga Puja celebrations. The lamps are lit right after sandhi puja at the crux of ashtmi and navami.

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Sindur khela

Dashami, the last day of Durga Puja celebrations, bring in the fervour of ‘Sindur Khela.’ Once the evening arti ends, this ceremony sees married women smear the main idol and each other with vermillion. Sweets are distributed and devotees exchange paan as well. However, different states of India have their own ways of celebrating the festival of Durga Puja or Navratri.

Must Read- Navratri 2019: Ten states in India and their unique Durga Puja celebrations

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Durga visarjan

The last day of Durga Puja celebrations sees ‘durga visarjan’. You can see lavish processions taking idols of the goddess for immersion in the Ganga or sea. It is a day of mixed emotions for devotees bid farewell to the deity, with the wish of welcoming her next year.