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| Photo by Souvik laha from Pexels |
When we talk about the City of Joy, Kolkata, our mind readily interprets it as the city of rosogolla, Bangaliana and Durga Pujo. The most majestically celebrated festival of the state is just around the corner. It is when the soul of the city enlivens with joy. Celebrated mainly for five days, yet, the Bengalis love to observe it as a long 10 day festival, beginning from Mahalaya. Maa Durga is a Hindu Goddess, but it’s worth noting how the city shows diversity in culture and religion. This is not just a festival for the Hindus, the Muslims, the Sikhs, the Christians and all others celebrate Durga Puja with the same heartful dedication.
However, due to COVID-19 several restrictions might come on the way.
Here are the top Durga Puja Pandals that you shouldn’t miss!
1. Bagbazar Sarbajanin
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| Bagbazar Sarbajanin Durgotsav 2020 (Image courtesy: Rupa Jana) |
Kolkata’s century old puja pandal Bagbazar Sarbajanin Durga Puja Pandal is situated in North Kolkata. In the pre-independent era, it used to be the hub of armed revolutionary groups like “Anusilan Samity”. According to historical reporters, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose used to be a part of this association and puja committee. The idol is traditional and is known as ‘Ek Chala’, which means it has a single backdrop or ‘Chalchitra’.
It is said that Bagbazar Sarbajanin is the first puja held communally in Kolkata.
2. Santosh Mitra Square
Also known as Lebutala Park, Santosh Mitra Square follows the traditional Durga Puja every year and is now more than 85 years old. The organisers of the puja committee continue to adorn Maa Durga’s idol with precious metals and stones be it gold or silver. In the year 2019, the committee installed the idol of Goddess Durga with 50kgs of gold in the puja pandal itself.
3. Mohammad Ali Park
Situated near Calcutta University in Central Kolkata, Mohammad Ali Park is named after an Indian activist, poet and journalist Mohammad Ali Jauhar. It is famous for hosting one of the best pujas in the entire city. The Park brings together Hindus and Muslims who celebrate the festival whole heartedly. However, the pandal is famous for ‘out-of-the-box’ theme every year. It has shown miniatures of the world famous monuments, African Safari themed pandal in 2015. The most controversial theme was in 2017, when the featured doctors as demons.
4. Ballygunge Cultural Association
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| Ballygunge Cultural Association 2019 themed ‘Jugalbandi’ (Image courtesy: Rupa Jana) |
Located in south Kolkata, Ballygunge Cultural Association is the most famous Sarbajanin (public) Durga puja in the city. The simplicity in its theme and traditional look adds to its glory. With the artistic mind, the association creates masterpieces, attracting a huge crowd every year. In 2019, for the 69th puja of the committee, the association illustrated the fusion of tradition and modernism as its theme, which is also known as ‘Jugalbandi’.
5. College Square
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| College Square Durga Puja Pandal 2019 (Image courtesy: Rupa Jana) |
Established in 1948, College Square Durga puja is located at College Street. It is known to host a must see Durga Puja Pandals in Kolkata. This square covers a lake and during the puja, the entire place is decorated with lights and looks surreal.
In 2021, it will be the 75th year of Durga Puja celebration in College Square.
6. Deshapriya Park
It is a must see Durga Puja Pandal in Kolkata. Deshapriya Park Puja has been amazing people year after year with their unique themes like a white temple of Thailand in the year 2017. The largest idol of Maa Durga of 88ft was touted by Deshapriya Park in the year 2015. However, after a stampede the pandal was closed. Yet, it gained back its popularity. Deshapriya Park is known to be one of the most hyped Durga Puja Pandal in Kolkata.
7. Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha
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| Dum Dum Tarun Sangha 2020’s theme (Image courtesy: Rupa Jana) |
According to the Puja committee, color enhances the festive mood, hence their most important ornament for puja pandal is the display of brilliant colors. Apart from this, they bring in exclusive abstract thematic pujas with colourful ambience. Like 2020, this year also, Dum Dum Tarun Sangha Puja Committee will keep the celebration on a low scale avoiding wasteful expenditure.
8. Mudiali Club
In south Kolkata, Mudiali Club is another grand Sarbajanin Puja. It has won the Asian Paints Sharad Samman Best Puja awards in the ear 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994. The committee focuses on the creativity depicting social causes, current events, heritage or ancient stories blooming with brilliant colors and décor. In the year 2012, they came up with a traditional form of Goddess Durga attired in gold.
9. Tridhara Sammilani
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| Tridhara Sammilani Durgotsav 2019 (Image courtesy: Rupa Jana) |
Another popular and hyped Puja of South Kolkata at the meeting point of three roads- Rashbehari Avenue, Monohar Pukur Road and Mahanirban road, is the Tridhara Sammilani Durgotsav.
Initiated in 1947 in a homely and quiet ambience, today Tridhara witnesses lakhs of visitors every year. As the name suggests, the club is a merging of the thoughts of three generations- the seniors, the present and the future youth. The committee focuses on the creativity and they came up with terracotta style of Bishnupur in 2007, replica of Mantrasala of Kerala in 2008, Rajasthani Haveli in 2011 and so on.
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