Best Durga Puja Pandals in India 2022

Durga Puja is one such festival which holds a certain enigma for the Bengali community, and the 5-day festival is certainly one of the most engaging. The festival gets its charm from the Debi Pokka, or on the day of Mahalaya itself. It is the beginning of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin and marks the end of the monsoon season. Mahalaya is celebrated in honour of the goddess Durga and her victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Mahalaya is a time for prayer and repentance. Hindus believe that Mahalaya is a time when the door to heaven is open and they can seek blessings from the gods. The most important Mahalaya ritual is the Mahisasuramardini Homa, in which a fire is lit in honour of the goddess Durga. It is also the day where the porter paints the eyes of Goddess Durga to embark on the festival.
The worship of Durga is very ancient, predating the Vedic period. The festival of Durga Puja was celebrated by the royals of the Mughal Empire. The modern form of the Durga Puja festival was popularised in the early 20th century by the Babu (gentleman) community of Kolkata. The festival is now the most important annual event in the Bengali Hindu calendar.

Nonetheless, the festival not only entices the Indian subcontinent but also sees its importance globally. To witness the festival in its true terms, you must visit Kolkata. Either it be the art installation through pandals or the lighting throughout the city, Kolkata has held onto its architectural brilliance and maintained its cultural heritage even now. Brands sponsor the festival, and this five-day festival is larger than life for every tourist and visitor. This year, Kolkata even received the UNESCO title as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This five-day festival (Sasthi, Saptami, Asthami, Navami, and Dasami) lit the city with various displays of work and installations, not only for the popular associations but overall. During this five-day period, the city is filled with high spirits and a grand-scale celebration. Even the well-known eateries serve their counters till late at night and help the visitors relish while the festival is working and operating in a very synchronised way.

So, if you want to enjoy the festival in its true terms, fly down to the cultural capital or the city of joy, aka Kolkata, and witness the madness and emerge completely from this 5-day cultural festival.