Kolkata Durga Puja Pandals

Kolkata Puja Pandals - Durga Puja festival in Kolkata is unique to its tradition of the veneration of Maa Durga, the Goddess of power (Shakti). The puja tradition started 237 years ago as a private puja of a Zamindar family. It falls during the month of September/October. Though West Bengal boasts of high-octane Durga puja celebrations, the celebrations is Kolkata is indisputably the most representative. People visit pandals to pay obedience to Ma Durga, partake of the pure and divine energy and enjoy gastronomic delights and cultural events.

Mother Durga defines ‘shakti’ which signifies the divine feminine power. She brought down the demon Mahishasura to save humanity. In West Bengal, this festival is celebrated prominently through the ten days commencing with Mahalaya, which marks the first day of the Devi-Paksha, trough the auspicious days of Sasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami or Bijoya Dashami. Each of these pious days involves different rituals and puja. The tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashami in Bengal when Maa Durga along with her children Ganesh, Kartikeya, Lakshmi and Saraswati from all the temples and homes are taken out in a procession and immersed in a river or a lake in a ritual called 'visarjan'. In the evening, people greet each other 'Shubho Bijoya' and the young seek the blessings of the elders.

During Durga Puja, there is an overwhelming wave of festivity that sweeps the state and especially Kolkata every year.

Kolkata has also made its name in exquisite and grand puja pandals used for housing idols of Maa Durga. A puja pandal is a temporary structure for housing idols of Ma Durga and her four children. In recent times puja pandals have attractive installations to attract people. People attired in new traditional clothes look forward to visiting the pandals to see the idol, partake of the puja prasad and enjoy the decoration of the pandal. People also throng the pandals in the evening for a wide variety of cultural programs including live musical shows by prominent singers. Women and young girls do the 'dhanuchi' dance while the traditional 'dhak' which is an energetic drum beat to honour Ma Durga is played. On the final day, married women participate in 'sindoor khela'.

Some of the puja pandals mentioned below are among the famous Kolkata Durga Puja Pandals.

Bagbazar
BagbazarPuja is a traditional pandal with a reputation that goes back to 100 years. It attracts lakhs of people and is known for its old-world ambience and traditional idols.

Location: The pandal is aptly located along the river in Bagbazar, and is near the Bagbazar Kolkata Circular Railway Station.

Bose Pukur Sitala Mandir Pandal
Bose Pukur Sitala Mandir pandal has an ethnic focus, with creative rendering of the rural life of West Bengal.

Location: It is located in Bosepukar,Kasba. The closest railway station is Ballygunge.

Kumartuli Park
The pandal at Kumartuli Park represents the art of potters/artisans who reside in the kumartuli locality and who earn their livelihood by sculpting idols. The main attraction is the idols as well as the facade that draws heavily from the Indian culture. The organizing committee comes up with innovative themes each year.

Location: The venue enjoys proximity to the Sovabazar Metro and Sovabazar Launch Ghat.

College Square
The first pandal at College Square dates back to 1948, and is today a popular pandal venue as located next to a lake lends it a scenic advantage that lures hordes of people to this grandly illuminated area full of fireworks and gleaming lights.

Location: It is a convenient location, as it is situated near Kolkata University in Central Kolkata. To get here, arrive at Mahatma Gandhi Road or Central Metro station.

Jodhpur Park
The Jodhpur Park pandal is among the most frequently visited pandal in south Kolkata. Each year people wait for its variously themed pandal, which even went as far as employing biodegradable materials, for digital rendering using a digital sculpting program a few years ago.

Location: It is located at Jadavpur Thana, Jodhpur Park and close to Dhakuria railway station.

Santosh Mitra Square
Santosh Mitra Square is another popular venue for unique art displays and replicas of monuments that epitomise architectural finesse. Founded in 1936, it is known for Ma Durga’s idols that have a divine and celestial appearance. It came into prominence since 1996.

Location: It is in Central Kolkata, in the Bow Bazaar area and anyone getting down at the Sealdah railway station will be able to locate it. If you prefer the metro, the nearest metro station is Central.

Badamtala Ashar Sangha
Badamtala Ashar Sangha has been organizing the pandal for the last 75 years. Its overriding success is due to its exceedingly creative artwork as seen in both the depiction of Ma Durga as well as in the lighting aspect. It won a creative excellence award in 2010. The puja committee crusades for societal equality and other topical issues and also organizes health camps and sporting events.

Location: Located in Kalighat, it enjoys proximity to Rash Bihari Avenue. If using the metro, get down at Kalighat metro station.

Suruchi Sangha
Suruchi Sangha pandal is more than 50 years old and is famed for its decorative art. Since 2003, it has been commended with awards for best decoration. What also sets this apart is that the Durga idol replicates the idol as represented in a different state of India. Social themes are also interwoven in the various art and the cultural events it holds.

Location: It is located in South Kolkata, in New Alipore, with Nalini Rajan Avenue as a landmark. Majerhat and Kalighat serve as the nearest landmark, while the nearest metro station is Rabindra Sarovar.

Ekdalia Evergreen
Ekdalia Evergreen puja pandal was established in 1943. Every year it makes preparations for replicating a reputed temple from all over India. The exquisite interiors and dramatic lighting also makes it a must visit.

Location: It is conveniently located in Gariahat, near Mandeville Gardens. The nearest railway stations is Ballygunge. Kalighat is the nearest metro station.

Mohammad Ali Park
Ali Park Durga Puja is one of the most-visited puja pandals that showcases gems of Indian and world architecture. However it hardly detracts from showing its own pride in Indian culture as a huge detailing in the ethnic art work shows. The lighting itself is put to dramatic effect. Location: The nearest metro station is Mahatma Gandhi Road.

Location: The nearest metro station is Mahatma Gandhi Road.

Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty
The Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja pandal is also one of the oldest celebrated pandals and has done award-winning work in its art displays and overall look. 1997 and 2002 were very successful years as it got recognition in an award category sponsored by Asian Paints.