Top 5 Reasons Why You Must Visit Kolkata During Durga Puja

Maa Durga, the Goddess of Shakti comes home to Prithvi Lok from Kailash during this time of the year with her four children and Bengalis around the world celebrate Maa's home coming. The Kash phool (Saccharum spontaneum ) and Aasshiner akash (Bengali month) creates nostalgia even for people who are outside Bengal. And Kolkata - the cultural capital of the world celebrates Durga Puja with devotion and expectation that Maa Durga will bless us all during her visit.

The festival celebrates Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasur. It is also believed that Lord Rama had worshipped Goddess Durga to get divine blessings just before the battle against Ravana.

During this time of the year, Kolkata - popularly known as the City of Joy is transformed in to a city of celebration, devotion and more importantly it elevates the rich culture of Bengal. This year, Puja starts on Friday, 20 October, panchami and ends on Tuesday, 24 October, dashami.

Why visit Kolkata during Durga Puja?

1. Because It's Pujo And The Celebration Is Unique

Maa Durga is symbol or shakti. The aura on her face, the decorations and the pandals with vibrant themes including Ram Mandir, Chandrayaan 3, Disneyland among many others will leave you mesmerised. These pandals look so real that it would leave you spell bound. Some of them also try to send a message to the society so their themes are based on atrocities on women, extortion etc. Overall you may feel different vibes in different pandals but the essence remains same, the rise of good and the fall of evil forces.

2. Food: From Sweet to Spicy, Everything is Special

While Rosogolla (Rasgulla) is known to be the special dessert, customised Sandesh is equally famous in Bengal. Good food is something bengalis cannot resist and during Pujo days it is all about good food starting from luchi to alur dom (Poori and Potato Sabji) in breakfast to mutton kasha and pulav on nobomi. Apart from that, Kolkata, just like Delhi and Mumbai is famous for its street food and during Pujo, the varieties are next level.

3. Saree And Dhoti: The Traditional Wear

Well, Pujo is incomplete with these traditional clothes. While women prefer Jamdani, taanth and tasar sarees, Pujo is incomplete with women, specially the married ones wearing the lal paar shada saree (white saree with red border). Similarly, men wear dhoti with kurta. Historically, the clothing industry of bengal thrives during Durga Puja. Famous movies like Vidya Balan starred Kahani were shot with Durga Puja as a plot.

4. It Is Family Time

While that is true for most major festivals in India, it is quite visible during Puja. Everyone returns home. This is the time of the year where families meet each other and spend some quality time. There are many families who celebrate Puja at home and some have been celebrating since 1600s.

Nabakrishna Dev started Durga Puja at Shobhabazar Rajbari in 1757 and the tradition continues till now.

5. Pandal Hopping

One of the best part. The pandals are the most spectacular things in Kolkata. It starts 3-4 months prior to Puja, and pandal hoping with friends from as early as Mahalaya is a tradition that is being followed from many years. There are long queues but at the end of it, the satisfaction of meeting Maa is eternal. Also, a must mention is dhunichi naach which is performed in every pandal at a designated time.

Durga Puja ends on Dashami, and Maa Durga returns to Kailash. There is a famous tradition of bodhon (Aarti) usually performed by women before the idol immersion. The famous saying on this day goes by "aashche bochor abaar hobe" which roughly translates to we are looking forward to next year's Puja!