Durga Puja in Kolkata

nitasharma

The best time to visit Kolkata to experience the grandure of the city is during the month of October when we celebrate Durga Puja. The entire city transforms into a fairy land of light, music and carnivals. Suddenly you see Travis fountains, Taj Mahal, Eifle tower and thousands of famous architectures at every street corner.

proxyindian

Has anyone at Indiamike been to Kolkata during Durga Puja? We'll for a week and leaving the day after it's over. We expect it will be more crowded than usual. What else should we expect?

artwallah

Does anyone know when Durga Puja will be in 2009? I am hoping to be in Kolkata in October that year, but might try to change the dates to coincide with the festivities.

proxyindian

I searched around YouTube for Durga Puja in Kolkata. Here's one that sort of shows much of what I was wondering. There's electric light displays, lots of beating on drums, priests in much action.... At one point in all this noise - very briefly - a man walks by on a celular. How on earth can he hear a thing? What is neat is that they gave the camera to some girls on a hand-powered Ferris wheel. These guys also ride in leg-powered rickshaws. And some guys pressing cane into juice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH-8wfZndP0

Also, what I learned through going to YouTube is that you can take pictures of these statues. There are lots of cameras out.

chief61

In the Year 2009, Durga Puja Starts from 25th Sepetember
and finishes on 29th September.

Cheers

mobilerug

The dates for 2008 are from October 06 to October 09.

Some pics of Durga Puja 2007 are here http://picasaweb.google.co.in/manabg/DurgaPuja2007

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- Manab

puchoo

That sounds early...last couple of years its been post or around mid-October...

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Cheers!

Sidharth

puchoo.wordpress.com

brishti

lunar calendar puchoo - [ i hope ]
you are speaking solar calendar dates

rarely do festivals fall exactly on the same day as the previous year - you are not for noticing thus?
not knowing or vhat?
paapam paapam.




:brishti

puchoo

Well that was not specified was it...!


yes i know that....thats why i said 'post or around mid october' . If they did it would be much easier to plan holidays..!

stake501

just booked my ticket

i'll be arriving in kolkata on the 5th october for durga puja

shasti 5th
septami 6th
austami 7th
navami 8th
bijoya dashami 9th


i will be leaving kolkata on the 18th.

so what to do between dashami and the 18th.....not really got time to leave north east so any suggestions for a 7-8 day break leaving 10th returning 17-18th. I want to some take in Kaziranga, and darjeeling, so any suggested itineraries would be most welcome

in fact i'll start a thread about it, rather than hijack this.

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chAos

Wow, there's a lot to see! Thanks for posting.

brishti

a lot???

chaos - you gotto go there once during durga puja...
nobody but nobody gets to see ALL the 'protima's' [goddesses],
you sneeze and there's a 'pandal' in front of you

but apart from pandal hopping - puja's is about -
the crowds, the lights, the roadside eats, the dhakis, new clothes and long long nights out in [usually] very cool nights with friends and/or family!

the entire city reverberates with renewed positive energy - and its a very happy, joyous sound.


:brishti

chAos

Funny you should say that! I was thinking about making it there during Durga Puja in 09, and looking into it is bringing up different questions (of course!):
Much of the fun of festival time is being with family; will it still be fun if we're just visiting?
We've got kids, the youngest would be nearly 5 then. If it's mostly standing in line to see the goddesses, they'll be done with that pretty quickly. Is it still worth it?
Should we stay after to see the rest of Kolkata, or can you do all that at the same time during the festival?
Please forgive if these questions are too silly; I'm just beginning to try to figure out what all to do over the next few years, and I started with thinking about Durga Puja in Kolkata!

brishti

chaos - ask away -

if you want to visit kolkata as a city - then do so - dec - feb.
during durga pooja, cal aint cal - not a good time to get to know the city.

like i said, there's a pandal a sneeze away during the puja's.
dont enter pandals which have a queue system - yup, its a pain for adults and kids alike.
instead just go with the flow - - after sundown, you will see them crowds - pedestrains - all over the city.
nearer to your time of visit, ask again and will give you details on how to manouvre!!!

calcutta otherwise, is another city
heck - for fear of romanticising the place, will sign off!!!
but ask and ye shall be answered to!


:brishti

mobilerug

Rightly said!!!