Durga Puja in Kolkata: A First-Timer’s Complete Travel Guide
As one of the most famous Bengali festivals, Durga Puja is celebrated all over the country. The celebration of triumph over evil lasts multiple days in accordance to the Hindu Calendar, and are a prime time for family gatherings and cultural events. It must be noted, however, that there is no place in India that celebrates Durga Puja more vividly than the state of West Bengal, specifically, Kolkata. If you’re looking to celebrate Durga Puja in Kolkata as a first-timer, here’s a guide to everything you should do and everywhere you should go.
The festivities begin with Mahalaya, which is the worship of Goddess Durga to welcome her arrival. Pandals are set up all over the city and people come together to pray and watch the performances of instruments, song and dance that are held in community-wide gestures to honor the start of Durga Puja. You will spot traditional drummers and clay lamps in devotee’s hands during this, immersed in what is known as Dhanuchi Naach.There is also the Sindoor Khela on the day of Dashami, when married women apply vermillion to the idol of the goddess and to each other.
Since crowds can sometimes pose a risk, it’s important to know where you’re going and how to get there. Some pandals include the several pandals at Kamartuli Park, Ahritola Sarbajanin Durgatsab, Suruchi Sangha and Ekdalia Evergreen Club. The best timings for visiting these pandals, and any pandals, are early morning and later in the night as they are the only times the crowds ease up, and it’s best to travel in local taxis unless you rent a vehicle of your own.
If you want to explore the food, it’s a safer bet to go to restaurants or properly established stalls; locals will always have excellent recommendations. Shopping for clothes and handicrafts can be done in places such as Hatibagan Market (affordable and diverse), Gariahat Market (traditional), and Dakshinapan Shopping Center (indoor and outdoor options). You’ll find excellently crafted jewellery, traditional sarees such as the Tant, Garad and Baluchari sarees, crafted knickknacks and souvenirs to take home, and a buzzing anticipation in the air for the celebrations about to come.
You should also know the most important days of the Durga Puja celebrations so you may plan accordingly. The festivities begin with Mahalaya, as mentioned above, and the most important days other from that are Saptami, Ashtami, Nauvami, and finally, Visarjan, which is when the idols are immersed in the river as it is believed Goddess Durga has returned to her celestial abode.
There are different traditions pertaining to each day, so you’d want to attend all of them to be able to take wholly take part in this tradition. You can also take time to walk around the streets of Kolkata, which come alive and bustle with vibrant colors, smells and sights. There are lamps, markets, stalls, music and the beauty of humans coming together to celebrate a culture that is thousands of years old. There is a different kind of air in Kolkata around the time of Durga Puja, and it is something that is best understood when experienced.
