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Durga Puja is one of Kolkata’s most significant annual cultural and religious festivals, bringing together worship, traditional craftsmanship and community celebrations.

Dedicated to Goddess Durga, it commemorates her victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. For Bengali Hindus, the festival also represents the goddess’s annual return to her parental home, a tradition that gives the celebrations their distinctive association with family, homecoming and cultural identity.

The mythology behind Durga Puja

Celebrated during the Hindu month of Ashvin, usually in September or October, Durga Puja holds particular significance for Bengali Hindus and communities in Assam, Odisha, Bihar and elsewhere. It is also observed in Bangladesh, Nepal and by the South Asian diaspora worldwide.

According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga defeated Mahishasura, a buffalo demon who received a boon that made him difficult to defeat had waged war against the gods. Her victory represents the restoration of cosmic order and the power of Shakti, the feminine divine energy.

But Durga is not simply a warrior goddess. In Bengali tradition, Durga is also a daughter returning to her parental home for a few days, accompanied by her children, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya. This association with homecoming is central to the festival’s cultural significance.

Although Durga Puja coincides with Navaratri and share its revenerce for the goddess, the two are distinct traditions with different regional customs and forms of worship.

The history of Durga Puja in Bengal

Durga Puja has evolved over centuries, shaped by religious practices and changing patterns of patronage. In Bengal, wealthy landowning families historically hosted elaborate celebrations in their ancestral homes, which also served as displays of social standing and influence.

Community-organised celebrations gradually expanded the festival beyond private households. Known as barowari or sarbojanin pujas, these gatherings brought neighbourhoods together through collective contributions and shared organisation. Today, public pandals are a defining feature of Durga Puja, with residents, artisans, volunteers and local businesses contributing to the festivities.

The art and craftsmanship behind the pandals

In Kolkata, Durga Puja has developed into a major showcase for traditional craftsmanship and contemporary art. Temporary structures known as pandals house the goddess’s image and serve as settings for worship. Their designs draw on architecture, folk traditions and contemporary themes, including social and environmental issues.

The preparations begin months in advance in Kumartuli, the historic potters’ quarter of north Kolkata. Artisans create clay images of Durga and her divine family, drawing on techniques passed down through generations. Their work preserves traditional skills while allowing room for artistic experimentation.

One important ritual is Chokkhu Daan, the painting of the goddess’s eyes. Performed during the idol-making process, traditionally in connection with Mahalaya, it symbolises the divine presence entering the image. The ritual reflects the spiritual significance of the artisans’ work and the role of craftsmanship in the festival.

The rituals and traditions of Durga Puja

Mahalaya marks the beginning of the festive season for many Bengali households. The pre-dawn radio broadcast of Mahishasura Mardini, a recitation narrating the goddess’s battle against the demon, remains a longstanding tradition.

The main celebrations take place over five days: Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami. Devotees visit pandals for darshan, offer prayers and participate in rituals. Sandhi Puja, observed at the transition between Ashtami and Navami, commemorates the goddess’s fierce battle against the forces of evil.

Music and dance are also integral to the celebrations. The dhaak, a traditional Bengali drum, provides the festival’s distinctive rhythms, while dhunuchi naach involves dancing with earthen incense burners. On Dashami, some communities observe sindoor khela, in which married women apply vermilion to one another as part of the farewell celebrations.

The festival concludes on Vijayadashami with visarjan, the immersion of the goddess’s image, often in a river. The ritual marks Durga’s departure from her earthly home and the end of the celebrations, with devotees looking forward to her return the following year.

Durga Puja’s cultural significance around the world

In 2021, UNESCO inscribed Durga Puja in Kolkata on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising the festival’s combination of religious rituals, traditional craftsmanship, public art and community participation.

The celebrations extend beyond West Bengal, with Bengali communities across India and the diaspora organising pujas that adapt local practices to new settings.

Durga Puja’s significance lies in the relationship between religious observance and collective cultural expression. Its traditions sustain artisan communities, encourage neighbourhood participation and provide a setting for artistic innovation. For Bengali communities worldwide, the festival also offers an opportunity to preserve and share cultural heritage across generations.

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