Just About Everything

An artist at Kumartuli One of the most popular festivals of Bengal, Durga puja begins. Durga puja celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil demon Mahishasura. This five day festival begins with Shashti, which was yesterday, and ends on Dusshera (Vijaya Dashami). Kolkata is so very festive during this time, and like every year, the city has turned into an artistic hub with amazing display of creative Durga puja pandals and idols…This festival combines art, music, food, and to me it is not a religious festival but a festival that celebrates the power of good over all things evil. I went out on a tour early morning on Pachami, and saw quite a few beautiful and creative pandals. Some of the pandals were ready, while some were on the last stages of completion.  In Kumartuli where almost all the idols are made, idol makers were busy completing the idols.  To begin with, I am posting  quite a different looking pandal. They have created a train station and a ...

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! ...

Here are some more pictures of Durga Puja 2001, Kolkata.These Durga images and pandals are from Bhawanipur. Like I said last time, I am so completely in love with the pandal themes. I still have a lot of pictures to share. Do come back for more. Durga Puja at a over 100 years old beautiful residence in Bhawanipur Durga Idol A pandal with all sorts of mechanical accessories Inside the Puja pandal Goddess Durga Mahishasur made out of scrap metal Entrance to a lovely ethnic Durga Pandal Goddess Durga Image Bhawanipur Kolkata Work on the walls of the pandal Beautiful Ceiling in the pandal Innovative pandal A different kind of Durga Idol Pandal with bamboo decorations A motif on the wall of the pandal A very different Durga idol Durga pandal from outside Durga idol in a residence in Bhawanipur A beautiful residence in Bhawanipur celebrating Durga puja 2...