The whole city becomes an art gallery of , drums and late-night food for five unforgettable days.
The story
- Celebrates the homecoming of the goddess Durga, and on the last day, Vijaya , her victory over the demon Mahishasura.
- Ten days of worship, with images made from Ganga clay and returned to the river at the end.
- Made by families, puja committees, priests, drummers and artists across Kolkata.
- UNESCO added Durga Puja in Kolkata to its list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2021.
What happens
The goddess is unveiled
open their doors in the evening and the city's -hopping begins.
bath at dawn
A banana plant is bathed in the river and dressed as before the morning puja.
and
The holiest day. Families offer flowers in the morning; 108 lamps are lit at the .
The biggest night out
stay busy until dawn, with drumming, dances and street food.
and immersion
Married women smear each other with sindoor, then idols are carried to the river. Bengal's falls a day after in most of north India.
Best places to see it
What to eat
Khichuri, labra (mixed vegetables) and payesh, cooked as an offering and then shared.
Many community pujas share it with visitors around lunchtime; some sell bhog coupons instead.
Crisp shells filled with spiced potato and chickpeas, dipped in tamarind water.
Stalls along the pandal routes.
A paratha rolled around egg, kebab or vegetables, and a stuffed paratha that works as a full meal between pandals.
Street stalls and roll shops.
Hot fritters and spiced yellow peas, eaten from paper plates while you queue.
Street stalls near the big pandals.
Rosogolla and sandesh to end the night.
Sweet shops across the city.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable shoes: a night of hopping easily means 10 km on foot.
- Go late at night or early morning to skip the longest queues.
- Use the Metro, since many roads close to traffic.
- Carry cash for street food stalls.
Organised by
Neighbourhood puja committees (community celebration)
There's no single organiser. Local committees, temples and families make it happen, so welcome and etiquette matter more than tickets.