It is after a long period of lockdowns that the country has breathed a sigh of relief. While the pandemic is still not over, festivals have served as a reprieve for people to come closer to their loved ones and celebrate the joy in their lives. Around this time, we have the Durga Puja. The significance of this festival does not need an introduction but in Kolkata, the vigor and enthusiasm for it is unmatched. The tradition of erecting or raising pandals is taken to new heights, quite literally, in Kolkata, the center of West Bengal.
Women respect with Durga Puja
The city holds special celebrations for this festival, each year representing a fresh theme like empowerment of humanity, respect for sex workers, etc. This year’s theme serves to honour mothers in resemblance with Goddess Durga.
Special in this Durga Puja
Another highlight of this year’s Durga Puja is the erection of a grand pandal, hailed as the “Burj Khalifa of Bengal”, in heart of the city of Kolkata. This pandal is a whopping 145-feet tall and like many previous years, has an exquisite statue of the Goddess, covered in gold. A total of 200 workers and technicians toiled hard to raise this pandal, designing it after the tallest building in the world. It has quickly become the show-stealer in the city by attracting thousands of visitors.
West Bengal’s Durga Puja is different
It is also to be observed that the tradition of celebrating this festival varies from region to region; Bengal has its own unique way of upholding the tradition. The pujas performed, whether at homes or community gatherings; incorporate Vedic, Puranic and/or Tantric ways of performing rituals.
These esoteric elements make the puja itself an experience worth living. Finally, even the submersion process of the idols of Goddess Durga is a grand act. Crowds of people can be seen at the shores of waterbodies, at the end of the festival. Thus, Durga Puja is indeed special for Kolkata.
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