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Durga Idol In retrospect, I am posting pictures of another Durga puja pandal from Kolkata. I will post some more pandals that were a bit different and unique this year.  This pandal in South Kolkata was based on a terracotta temple. It looked so genuine, it was unbelievable that this so authentic looking terracotta temple complex was actually a pandal and would be there for just 5 days! The artists had taken pains to make this temple look old and authentic. And the result was beautiful! This Bengali festival certainly brings out the most creative stuff. The pandal complex Entrance Lateral View  The pandal complex  with a sculpture Side walls of the temple Work on the walls of the terracotta complex

Durga idol  A completely different concept for Durga puja pandal. The theme of this pandal in South Kolkata is a library and the idea is to promote reading. Quite an interesting concept indeed! I wonder what will they come up with next? My next post has some more interesting concepts from Durga puja 2013. Entrance to the pandal A small little hut in keeping with the theme Entrance to the pandal Durga puja pandal with books and guitar Nicely done A book rack in the pandal Durga puja mantra A popular Bengali poem

Durga Idol at the Girish Mukherjee residence Durga puja at the Girish Mukherjee house in Bahawnipur, Kolkata is over 100 years old. This beautiful old house and the people have upheld the tradition of celebrating Durga puja in the same traditional way over the years. All members of the family get together for Durga puja, the sense of togetherness and the spirit of festivity in this household is infectious! And not to miss the dhakis who complete the whole picture by drumming in the beats of happiness. Durga painting Beautiful old house- Girish Mukherjee bari Bhawanipur, Kolkata Entrance of the house The family gets together for the evening Durga arati on Nabami Durga Arati on Nabami Dhakis with their colourful drums

Goddess Durga Today is the Maha Ashtami day of Durga puja, among other pujas on Ashtami, Sandhi puja happens to be quite a significant puja in Ashtami. Devi Durga is worshiped with 108 diyas, 108 lotus flowers and garlands made of hibiscus and leaves. I managed to capture a part of the Sandhi puja today. Sandhi puja is supposed to be very significant because it is believed that Durga killed Chando and Mundo the two asuras at this time, and Durga is worshiped in her Chamunda form during Sandhi puja. Most of the times, Sandhi puja happens around midnight or even later at night. It quite an experience to listen to mantras and the dhaks (drums) during that time of  the night when there is silence all around. Quite a spiritual experience actually! This time though it was at 3.45pm in the afternoon. Leaving you with this video, though this video is not very good, the sound of the drums and ambiance really makes it quite an experience. Happy pujas.

Durga idol Santoshpur Lake Pally Today is shasti, and Kolkata is so completely festive. The excitement begins from today! Officially Durga Puja for 2013 begins today but people have been pandal hopping since chaturthi! So far I have seen just a few Durga puja pandals. I am sharing the pictures of two of my favourite Durga puja pandals so far. The following set of pictures are from a Durga puja in Patuli in South Kolkata. It is called the Patuli club puja. The pandal is in the shape of a cage and there are birds in  the cage. Each idol is holding a dove, most likely to depict peace. Patuli club durga puja 2013 Birds in the pandal A beautiful peacock Paintings on the pandal Durga idol Patuli club 2013 Decorations in the pandal The below-mentioned pandal is again from South Kolkata, it is called the Santoshpur Lake Pally Durga puja. The pandal is in the shape of a flower and it looks so beautiful and real. The stigma of th...

Durga idol Durga puja is less  than a month away, and Kolkata is beginning to look festive. Shopping, which is so much an integral part of this festival, is now at its peak! Shops are now open every day of the week. Like every year, this year as well, the city is coming up with some very innovative and creative Durga puja themes and pandals. Can't wait to go pandal hopping! The part that I never get tired of repeating is how the city transforms during these 5 days in October every year. Everyone participates in this festival, it is more of a celebration of good things to come than a religious festival. Millions of people go pandal hopping. The city does not sleep during this time. Road side vendors sell delicious food all through the night; you will find crowds going pandal hopping even at 3 am in the morning! It is quite an amazing experience actually. You need to witness this once in a lifetime at least! What I like most about this festival is how it brings togethe...