Durga Puja in Kolkata

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Durga Puja, the biggest festival of West Bengal is just around the corner. In fact, the spirit of the festival is very much tangible long before it actually begins. The city of Kolkata, especially, goes through a complete makeover during the Puja season. Literally it becomes the ‘City of Joy’. Every nook and corner is decorated with lights to celebrate the arrival of Maa Durga, with her children, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartika, and Ganesha. The city throbs with delight. No Bengali ( or as it is called nowadays, Bong) is there whose heart doesn’t leap up with pure joy during the Puja season.

The grandeur, the awesomeness of the festival makes the whole city a dreamland. You can see the exact replica of the Sahara desert here and there is the Titanic, at a stone’s throw, trembling with the swirl of artificial waves. A plethora of ‘themes’ and intricate decorations of ‘pandals’ are sure to make you gawk in wonder. From the tribal motifs to the terracotta statues, from the filigree art to the Pipli work of Odisha, these ‘pandals’ are helping to restore many lost arts and thereby providing financial help to the artisans and workers concerned.

The extreme south of Kolkata boasts of some exquisite and reputed Durga Pujas which are really a treat to the eyes.
The Ajeya Sanghati Club , (established 1963) is undoubtedly the crowning glory of the mentioned area. This year, they’ve designed and decorated their ‘pandal’ with earthen lamps or ‘diyas’.  Millions of diyas, artificially lighted, has made the ambiance heavenly. Here are some exclusive pictures!

Ajeya Sanghati Durga Pujo, the 'pratima' (idol)

Ajeya Sanghati Durga Pujo, the ‘pratima’ (idol)

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The Idol of Devi Durga

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Inside Decoration of the ‘Pandal’

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Tall Earthen Lamps, waiting to get lighted

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The ‘Pandal’

Another reputed club of the same area, Putiary Club, they have used terracotta figures to instill a traditional effect in this year’s theme. The idol of Maa Durga, clad in a typical red-white traditional Bengal saree, doesn’t look wild and hostile at all. Rather she is the incarnation of eternal motherhood here.
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Idol of Maa Durga, Putiary Club

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Installation with metal sheets, Putiary Club

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Terracotta Statuettes

 

Naktala Udayan Sangha, an enigmatic Maa Durga , depiction of the force which stands against all odds. The theme here is ‘Titanic’. Artificial waves and swirls have been created withe the ingenious use of light and sound.

Idol of Maa Durga, Naktala Udayan Sangha

Idol of Maa Durga, Naktala Udayan Sangha

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Inside Decoration

Inside Decoration

These are just a few glimpses! Visit Kolkata, the city of joy during the Pujas and it will surely be one of the most memorable of your visits.

HAPPY PUJA TO ALL. STAY BLESSED. 🙂

101 responses to “Durga Puja in Kolkata”

  1. Pingback: Durga Puja in Kolkata, 2016, Thoughts and Pictures | Scattered Thoughts·

  2. hmmm… you know I was surprised when I came across a Bengali who does not eat fish, because that person was vegetarian… I like few things of your fork…your crazy for yummy, good food… most food has khus khus and mustard oil I guess… you guys have lot of things to unite you…but I got something you fish loving forks may like… “Alive without breath; As cold as death; Never thirsting, ever drinking; Clad in mail never clinking. Drowns on dry land, Thinks an Island Is a mountain; Thinks a fountain Is a puff of air. So sleek, so fair! What a joy to meet! We only wish To catch a fish, So juicy-sweet!”

    Yes Durga Maa is worshiped in different forms in different culture… she a beautiful women but can vanquish demons…so sort of inspiring, but of what I see people depict her as a violent women too and make animal sacrifices to her…so I am scared of Durga too, she seems angry…but its good she will be happy in Kolkatta during Durga Puja

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much for such a wonderful comment.

      True, most of the Bengalis love fish, but of course, there are exceptions. 🙂

      Durga Puja in Kolkata is a great festival…you will be amazed to see the city, hugely decorated and lighted…and, of course crazily crowded… 😀

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  7. Pingback: Mythology and Maa Durga | Scattered Thoughts·

  8. Thanks Maniparna for helping me with a glimpse of Kolkata puja… I couldn’t make it this time… lovely shots… you click quite well! Idol of Naktola was unique… I’m sure you explored more of Kolkata… may be you can share them with us 🙂

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  10. Wow! Lovely pics there. Beautiful. I somehow missed being a part of the Navrathri celebrations this year since I was occupied at work, but thanks to pics which people are sharing, am able to admire the pics! Thanks 🙂

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  28. Very nice photography and narration. A little details about to location and how to reach these pandals from airport/ railway station might have helped people arriving at Kol for seeing these Pujas.

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  32. Great glimpse of the famed Durga Puja at Calcutta! Reminded me of my days in Delhi – I lived close to CR Park where you did get exposed to the Bengali way of celebrating Navratri.

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  33. Beutiful pics, You know one of my lovely friends invited me this year to come but sadly i dont have any days off to take :(..

    Next year fingers crossed I should be in kolkata during the puja days

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  39. So artistically done! Here in Bangalore one doesn’t get to see so many varieties.
    A very happy Pujo to you and all your loved ones.

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  41. Amazing writeup and pictures both Mani. I so wish to be in Kolkata this time of the year. My best wishes for Navratri to you and family.

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  43. Happy puja to you :0 Feels blessed to be in a country with so many festivals.

    Also not to forget the number of off days from work 😛 But the fact is that we transform ourselves to accommodate all these festivals. This was a nice insight on Durga puja.

    Cheers!!!

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  45. Brilliant pictures! I am finding it so difficult to take the eyes of the divine image of Ma Durga captures in all Her beauty! I wish Ma calls me to Kolkata someday to witness everything Live. Till then, I keep the beauty of your pictures close in my heart. 🙂 Thanks a lot dear Mani, Happy Puja to you! 🙂

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  48. Beautiful photos and images are radiating the power of goddess Durga…yes, it is time to be in Kolkatta…the atmosphere is loaded with joy and fervor. The design and decor is left to our creative imagination and not to forget about the spread of light and of course the taste of sweet…Wishing you a very happy dussera!!!

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