South Kolkata Durga puja 2015

Durga idol-Hindustan Park Kolkata

Here are some more Durga puja pandals from South Kolkata. It keeps getting better and better...

With Durga pujas now over, there is a bit of sadness in the air... the celebrations got over too soon:(  

The puja fever is really something...no one gets spared…it is infectious...it just engulfs you. It is difficult to express how it feels unless you are in Kolkata and are a part of these celebrations. There is so much more to Durga puja than it being a religious festival where Goddess Durga is worshipped. 

In fact, I would say it is much beyond a religious festival, it is a time for celebration, a joyous occasion when families and friends get together, delicious khichdi bhog is devoured by one and all (I wait for the khichdi…I have never tasted anything as delicious as this khichdi), gifts are exchanged, one wakes up to the sound of dhaks, and the best part is the creative and beautiful puja pandals and idols... Oh what a treat!                                                             

Hindustan Park Durga puja

Pandal decorations Hindustan Park

Such a beautiful idol and creative pandal

Hindustan Park Durga puja 2015

Ekdalia Evergreen Durga puja 2015

Wood work in the pandal

Ekdalia Kolkata puja Pandal

Ekdalia pandal

Durga idol

Singhi park Durga puja 2015-Note the bottles used for decoration

Puja pandal

Inside the pandal

Durga idol

Durga Puja 2015-South Kolkata

Durga idol, Kasba, Talbagan

Here is a glimpse of some of the popular Durga pujas in South Kolkata. I was wondering if this could get any better and it does …it keeps getting better. I love the art and the creativity in the pandal decorations, in the different styles in which the idols are conceptualized and presented.

There is a lot more…and I will continue to share.

Durga Pandal Kasba, Kolkata

Ethnic and colourful!

Durga puja pandal Bosepukar 2015

Lovely

Inside the pandal in Bosepukar, Kasba

Banana flower

Pandal decorations

Durga idol, Bosepukar, Kolkata

So real!

Ballygunge cultural

Traditional drummers (dhakis)

Durga idol-Ballygunge cultural

Dhakis; traditional drummers playing the dhak (drums) during Durga puja 2015

A video clipping of dhakis (traditional drummers) playing the drums after the evening arati in Salt Lake, Kolkata.

Drum beats are very much a part of Durga puja festivities, and dhakis are much in demand then.I wish there could be something that could be done to keep this art alive, we barely see these performances other than festivals, and that to a lot of pujas are doing away with it:(

I hope it does not come to a future where we only have CDs and recorded music playing instead of live performance.

Durga Puja 2015; North Kolkata Puja Parikrama

Durga idol Hatibagan Sarbojanin

Happy Saptami!

I can't believe that Saptami is almost over. That just leaves us with two more days of
festivities :(

Here are some more beautiful Durga puja pandals from North Kolkata. The best part about most of the pandals, I visited this year, was the use of natural materials for decorations.It is really nice to see the conscious use of natural materials; not only are they environment friendly, they also result in the employment of rural talent. These creations are so very artistic and amazing. I hope you enjoy this tour.I will bring you more soon.

Hatibagan  Sarbojanin puja pandal

Paper Decoration pieces

Used tea bags

The main pandal with colourful paper decorations

Durga idol

Nabin Pally Durga puja Paper-mâché

Pandal with paper mache

Beautiful paper mache creation

Durga idol

Nalini Sarkar Street Durga puja Hatibagan

pandal decorations

Durga idol Nalini Sarkar Street