Durga Puja 2023: Devotees Throng Pandals In Kolkata, Other Cities Despite Rains

Despite intermittent rains on Monday afternoon, enthusiastic revellers thronged the streets of cities and towns in West Bengal to visit the Durga Puja pandals on Navami, the penultimate day of the festivities. Long queues were seen outside popular pandals in Kolkata, Siliguri, Howrah, Asansol, Durgapur, and Kalyani.

Undeterred by Rain

Although the crowd was thinner in the afternoon due to the rain, as the showers stopped in the evening, the number of people swelled. Sandipan Banerjee of the Behala Notun Dal club in south Kolkata, which built a pandal featuring phuchkas, said that come rain or sunshine, people will try to make the most of the four days, and they don't want to let go of a single moment.

Pandals Continue to Draw Crowds

Renowned pandals like Santosh Mitra Square in Sealdah, which replicated the Ram Mandir being constructed in Ayodhya, continued to attract lakhs of visitors, with waiting times to enter the grounds exceeding two hours. Other popular pandals like Tallah Prattay, Tridhara, Chetla Agrani, Ekdalia Evergreen, Jodhpur Park, and Bosepukur Sitala Mandir also witnessed large gatherings.

Festivities in Full Swing

Community feasts and cultural functions were held in many areas and apartment complexes, adding to the festive atmosphere. Ruchira Banerjee of the Naktala Nabapally Sarbojonin Durga Puja Committee said that everyone has been waiting for this day for months, and they will go ahead with the planned cultural programs despite the rains. She emphasized that not a single resident leaves the area during these five days.

Greetings from Leaders

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended her Navami greetings to the people of the state, while Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP also conveyed his best wishes.

Weather Forecast

According to the weather department's forecast, light to moderate rains are likely in Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah, and Kolkata on Tuesday, which is Bijoya Dashami.

As the curtains come down on this year's Durga Puja festivities, the memories created during these five days will be cherished by all.