About Kolkata Best Puja Durga Puja in 2019

About Kolkata Best Puja Durga Puja in 2019

Durga Puja is one of the most famous festivals celebrated in West Bengal and particularly in Kolkata, in honour of Goddess Durga during the period of Navaratri. It is celebrated for 10 days, however starting from the sixth day until the ninth day, the Pandals with grand idols of Goddess Durga are open for visitors. The tenth day, also known as Dashami marks the Visarjan (immersion in water) of the idol with grand celebrations and processions.  

Celebrated with much enthusiasm and zeal, Durga Puja is an extravagant affair in Kolkata. Bringing together the affluent religious as well as cultural history, Durga Puja is the time when Kolkata brightens up with lively colours and become a perfect place to travel for. During this time, the city takes you to the people wearing traditional clothes, lively bazaars along with more than thousand colourful Pandals, revealing various forms of goddess Durga. With the most elaborate and innovative themes, these Kolkata Durga Puja Pandals attract people from all over the world and make Durga Puja one of the greatest events in India. So, here we present to you the best Durga Puja Pandal in Kolkata.

About Durga Pooja

According to the Hindu Mythology, Goddess Durga emerged from the collective energy of all Gods as an embodiment of Shakti or divine feminine power, to destroy demon Mahishasura; who was blessed to not be defeated by any man or god. The name Durga in Sanskrit means 'the impenetrable'; she exists in a state of self-sufficiency and in ultimate power. This powerful form of Mother Goddess is highly revered in Kolkata which is why her return is celebrated with much grandeur and ceremonies.

 

If you are in Kolkata during Durga Pooja, these are the popular features of the grand celebrations, you shouldn't miss out on. The preparations for the festival are as fascinating as the festival itself. A week prior to the festival, the city gears up and can be seen wearing a look of eagerness and excitement as it prepares itself to welcome the Goddess home.

Chokkhu Daan - The Day When Eyes of Goddess Durga are Painted for Durga Puja in Kolkata

Durga Puja in Kolkata has its own unique rituals. A week before Navratri begins; the idols of Goddess Durga are being painted and made ready except for the eyes. On the occasion of Mahalaya, the Goddess is invited on earth with rituals and so on this day, the eyes are drawn on the idols in an auspicious ritual called Chokku Daan. It is believed the Goddess descends to earth at the time of drawing the eyes on the idols. 

The Procession to Bring in the Deity: 

On the sixth day of Navaratri i.e. the first day of Durga Puja 2019; the beautifully decorated idols are brought home or into magnificently decorated public pandals. The idol is then decorated with flowers, clothes, jewellery, red vermillion and various sweets are kept in front of the Goddess. The idol of the Goddess is accompanied by the idol of Lord Ganesh. Goddess Durga is considered to be Lord Shiva's wife Parvati's avatar and thus the mother of Lord Ganesh and his brother Kartikeya.

The Ritual of Pran Pratishta

This is the ritual of invoking the presence of the Goddess in the idol. This takes place on the seventh day, when early in the morning; a small banana plant called Kola Bou is taken to the river to be bathed and dressed in a red-bordered sari and carried back in a procession to be placed near the idol of the Goddess. This is then followed by ritualistic prayers and puja, that will take place for all the remaining days of the festival. There are also a lot of cultural activities that take place as part of the celebrations. People come together to dance, sing, perform plays and traditional.

Dashami - The Last Day of the Durga Puja

The tenth day of the Durga Puja 2019 festival is called Dashami; it is believed that on this day, Goddess Durga gained victory over the Demon and thus restored the balance on the earth. It is also known as Vijayadashami. On this day, Goddess Durga is worshipped and offered many things as she is prepared to leave. Highly enthusiastic devotees gather in large numbers to join the procession that carries the Goddess to the ghats to be immersed in water. Women, especially married woman initiate the procession by first applying red sindoor or vermillion powder on the Goddess and then to each other. It is said to be a symbol of marriage and fertility. The immersion of the idol is similar to the immersion of the Ganesha idol during Ganesh Chaturti. Babu Ghat is one of the popular places for immersion located near Eden Garden.  

Complete List of Durga Puja Pandals

1. New AliporeSuruchi Sangha

Buro Shibtala

2. BehalaBehala Natun Dal

Friends Club

Debdaru Fatak

Shree Sangha

3. KhiddiroporePally Sharadiya

75 Pally

25 Pally

Nabarag

Yubak Sangha

Kabi Tirtha

Yuba Gosthi

4. NaktalaNaktala Udyan Sangha

Nabadurga

Panchadurga

5. Khanna Theatre Crossing & Kankurgachi

Beleghata 33 Pally

Kankurgachi Mitali Sangha

Kankurgachi Yubak Brinda 

6. Shyambazar 5-Point Junction & Hatibagan

Hatibagan Sarbojanin

Kasi Bose Lane

Nalin Sarkar Street

Nabin Pally

7. Maniktala

Chaltabagan

Loha Patti

Vivekananda Sporting

Bayan Samity

Lala Bagan

Kar Bagan

8. ChetlaChetla Agrani

Akal Bodhan

Alipore Sarbojanin

9. Ultandanga

Ultandanga Pallysree

Ultandanga Sangrami

Golaghata Sarbojanin

10. Mahatma Gandhi Road (Near Sealdar)

Santosh Mitra Square

College Square

MD. Ali Park

11. Sobhabazar & Girish Park (Metro)

Kumortuli Park Sarbojanin

Ahiritola

Shimla Street

Kumor Tuli Sarbajanin

Jagat Mukharjee Park

Beniatola

Pathuriaghata

Darpanarayan Street

Bagarbazar Sarbajanin

Tala Prottoye

Tala Borawari

12. Dum Dum & Laketown

Sree Bhumi Sporting Club

Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra

Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha

Lake Town Netaji Sporting

Lake Town Adibashi Brinda

13. Bhawanipore

Bhawanipuri Rupchand

Jatin Das Park

Abasar Sarbajanin

14. Ballygaunge

Ballygaunge Cultural

15. Thakurpur

SBI Park

16. Rashbehari Avenue

66 Pally

Badamtala

Nepal Bhattachariy Street

Shib Mandir

17. Tollygunge

Mudiali Club

18. Haridevpur

Ajeyo Sanghati

41 Pally

Vivekananda Sporting

Vivekananda Park Athletic

19. Gariahat

Ekdalia Evergreen

Singhi Park

20. Santhoshpur (Jadavpur)

Santhoshpur Avenue

Santhoshpur Lakepally

Trikon Park

Pally Mangal Samity

21. Dhakuria & Jodhpur Park

95 Pally

Babubagan

Selimpur

22. Deshapriya Park

Deshapriya Park

Tridhara

Hindusthan Park

Hindusthan Club

Samaj Sebi

23. Kasba

Bosepukur Sitala Mandir

Talbagan

For the uninitiated, this could be a lot to take in. So the simplest way to participate in the festivities and enjoy it to the hilt is to take a Durga Puja Festival Tour. Many such tours are organised by Govt and private agencies alike, the most prominent being the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation.