Durga Puja: The Most Joyous Festivals Of West Bengal and A Few States Of North East

While entire India celebrates Navratri for nine days, people in West Bengal and North-East states, celebrate Durga Puja, which beings from the sixth day of  Navratri that is the sashti. The Durga puja in Kolkata and other cities in North East celebrate the festival with a different level of euphoria.

The puja is also celebrated in the honour of a Goddess Durga, and this puja has its own customs and rituals. Organizers of the festival make fascinating preparations and arrangements in pandals that looks breathtaking. Here is a quick glimpse of Durga Puja in West Bengal, how it is celebrated and its significance for the people of West Bengal.

Chokkhu Daan – Eyes of Goddess Durga are Painted for Durga Puja

Before Navratri begins, the idols of goddess Durga are being painted and made ready, except for the eyes. On the Rituals of chokkhu dhaan the eyes are drawn on the idols by kumartullis or potters.

The Procession to Bring in the Diety

On the first day of Durga puja in Kolkata, the idols of goddess Durga are beautifully decorated in pandals. Several kinds of sweets, flowers and jewellery are kept in front of the goddess as offerings, also known as Prasad.

And from this day, the actual celebration begins. These days pandals are decorated based on themes. People from all parts of the states, and even from different parts of the country, visit these pandals to capture its beauty.

The Durga Puja starts from the sixth day and ends on Dashmi. On the Dashmi, unlike the rest of India when people celebrate Dusshera, burning the effigy of Rawan. The people in West Bengal celebrate sindoor khela. This is the day when Deity Durga idol is immersed in the water.

The five days long Durga Puja festival is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over the West Bengal and its beauty seems mesmerizing.

Durga Puja Pandal in West Bengal

The pandals of lord Durga is the centre of attraction for people of West Bengal because of their outdo, inspiring and captivating decoration. If you have to visit the pandals of  Durga Puja in West Bengal, start from sashti to avoid the crowd. Afternoon time is better than the night.  Some of famous Durga Puja pandals in West Bengal are of bagbazar, kumartuli park, college square, mohammad ali park, santosh mitra square, badamtala ashar sangha, ballygunge cultural association, suruchi sangha, ekdalia evergreen, jodhpur park.

Bhog for Durga puja

The people of  West Bengal are foodie, and so Durga Puja festival is not untouched with that. You will get lots of Bengali cuisines to taste in fair and pandal during these 5 days festival.  All the pandals offer bhog which they are offering to Goddess Durga and later on all this bhog is served among all the devotees.

On the last day of  Durga Puja, everyone is served this bhog. If you want to know how to do Durga Puja at home,  refer our astami puja article.