For many, Durga Puja is synonymous to Kolkata. However, if I were to associate one place to this festival, it would always be Shillong. Barring seven years, I’ve spent every Durga Puja at home in Shillong.
Last year was my first Pujo in Kolkata in my adult life. And this year, would be my second here.
I spent all of the Pujo days in my neighbourhood in Salt Lake. Here every block had its own pandal. This increased my chances of ‘pandal hopping’ unbelievably! And so the days I wasn’t working, I stepped out and found a new one at every turn.
Food is another aspect without which Pujo is incomplete. Feasting on all types of Bengali delicacies (and unlimited street food) is a must. I remember gobbling up puchkas and egg rolls every day. Needless to say that sweets are found in copious amount everywhere.
Even though these photos don’t illustrate half of the madness in Kolkata during Pujo, this was how my short visits around Salt Lake looked like. And thanks to the tolerable crowds, I’m looking forward to it again this year.
Read: Photo Story: Walking Through the Heart of Kolkata
Read: Top 5 Cocktails Bars in Kolkata
Which is your favourite city for Durga Puja?
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Amrita Das
I have been a travel and culture independent journalist. My bylines have appeared in many publications worldwide including National Geographic Traveller India, Lonely Planet Magazine India, The Indian Express and World Travel Magazine. A fellow of Media Ambassadors India-Germany 2019 program by Robert Bosch Stiftung and Centre for Media Competence, University of Tübingen. Currently, I am the photo editor for RoundGlass Sustain, a wildlife and conservation e-publication. I live in India.
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Lovely pictures! Never been in Kolkata for pujo!
It is a madhouse during Pujo. But it’s one of those must-see in certain destinations events :)
Lovely pictures and a beautiful write-up.
Thank you and welcome to Travelling Ides of March :)