Durga Puja - A festival of colour

Durga Puja has just finished in Kolkata and was an amazing riot of colour and sound. The festival worships Durga every year in one of the most spectacular events of the year. Months of work are required to complete increasingly elaborate idols representing Durga. Each community places these idols in temporary houses called Pandals or in the case of the wealthy, an idol will be placed in the house.

The festival moves beyond the worship of the goddess and is now a time to catch up with friends and family, buy new clothes, share food and gossip with friends. The city grinds to a halt and heaves with traffic and people all scrambling to see the newest and best Pandal.

At the end of the festival the idols are returned to the river in a lively emersion ceremony. 

Pandalmania at Durga Puja

Durga Puja is Kolkata's largest festival for the year. It is a celebration of the Goddess Durga but also an opportunity to get together with friends and family.

Images of Durga are made for months before being placed in elaborate pandal's. These are temporary structures made for the festival in each neighbourhood. Some are as elaborate like a castle while others more modest. Despite the heat everyone takes to the streets and strolls around to each pandal admiring the artistry and paying their respects. Those who are wealthy have an image in their home. At the end of the festival the image is given back to the River Hooghly in an elaborate ceremony on the ghats.