Durga Puja - South Kolkata

It has been quite a few years since I have visited the pujas of the southern part of the city. Compared to the north, these are relatively newer parts of the city and hence considered by many to be much lesser in terms of tradition and heritage. The topic has brewed too many arguments over a cup of tea in the Bengali adda circles, so its better left undisturbed. But then, no one can question the innovation and creativity that goes in to organise the pujas. From depicting a Tibetan monastery to the Jagannath temple of Puri, the pandals were built to perfection. I actually had to touch them to be convinced that it was all paper and woodwork that has built these amazing structures.

After barely three hours sleep, we left early morning for some more pandal hopping. The evenings are the best time to visit, when the lights come on, bringing alive the pandals and the idols. However, this also means passing through an impenetrable crowd and standing hours in the queue, so better left to the much younger crowd. It was just after six in the morning when we reached the city.

First stop Chetla Agrani Club

Chetla Agrani Club Durga Puja

Suruchi Sangha, depicting a Tibetan monastery. The thought of the amount of work that has gone in to build this temporary structure and the attention to detail is simply overwhelming.

Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja

Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja

Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja

Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja

Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja

Moving into Behala next at Barisha club

Barisha club

Barisha club Durga Puja

Next stop Behala club, looked like a proper place to offer pushpanjali

Behala club

Behala club Durga Puja

Next stop was Deshopriya park and the highly hyped Durga with a thousand arms. Quite pointless.

Deshopriya park Durga Puja

And a stop at the very impressive pandal at Tridhara

Tridhara pandal

Tridhara deity

Moved to Jodhpur park from here, depicting the childhood Bengali poem 'Kumor parar gorur gari, bojhai kora kolshi hari' - a bullock cart filled with pottery

Jodhpur park puja

Jodhpur park Durga puja

Jodhpur park Durga puja

Then off to Babubagan which depicted Durga in an akhara preparing warriors and Selimpur, represnting the caves of Ajanta and Ellora

Babubagan Durga Puja

Selimpur Durga Puja

South Kolkata puja is never complete without visiting the traditional pujas of Singhi Park and Ekdalia. Noticed a few foreigners around here, was good to know that people from outside India have started to take interest in the Durga Puja. It deserves a much wider audience.

Singhi park

Singhi park

Ekdalia

Ekdalia

It was time to turn back to Central Kolkata, so headed off to Bose Pukur. The pandal was depicted as a Bengali wedding venue. The rains came in as soon as we reached here.

Bose Pukur

Bose Pukur

 Dark clouds covered the entire sky and the drizzle grew stronger. Change in plans and we decided to head back, after visiting Sribhoomi. This was my favourite pandal which depicted the Jagannath temple in Puri. The artwork was amazing, and as like other years, the Goddess was decked up in real gold.

Sribhoomi

Sribhoomi

Sribhoomi 

Sribhoomi

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