I look forward to the annual celebration of Durga Puja, a time when my city Kolkata truly comes alive. This is a time when friends from far and near travel home to celebrate with their families and for all of us it’s an action-packed five days.
The weeks leading up to Puja, one can see pandals being meticulously constructed, artisans at their creative best and the grandeur of the finished products leaves me mesmerised. I draw up a list of the must-visit pandals, catch insiders’ sneak peeks, and I am well-prepared to go pandal-hopping.
For many of us Goans who have made Kolkata home, Puja begins with the pre-Puja festivities at The Dalhousie Institute, where the beat of the dhaak and dhunuchi naach fills the air. Feasting on old Kolkata classics like fish fry, fowl cutlet and chaat sets the mood. After that, we drive around the city to see artists giving their finishing touches followed by a bhaanr of nice hot chai. The festive spirit is palpable.
In Goa, we value susegad (relaxed living), so some of us also make the most of Puja holidays by simply doing nothing. Our festivities continue until January 1, with Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Durga Puja gifting trends have evolved from traditional sweets to include baked goods now, says Alisha
Puja gifting trends have evolved over the years and our Goan-family-run Saldanha Bakery has geared up to this change. People are now gifting cakes, assorted pastries, cookies, cheesecake in a jar, brownies and hampers to their friends and family. The festival is celebrated by one and all. To make the most of every moment of the festivities, I make sure to start work early so that I can head out.
For me, these days are a gastronomic delight, with specially curated Mahabhoj menus featuring Chholar Dal, Chingri Malai Curry, Daab Chingri, Bhetki Paturi, Kosha Mangsho, Basanti Pulao and fluffy Luchi, leaving me spoiled for choice. As Goans, we share a strong love for food, and one thing that unites us with Bengal is our mutual affection for rice and fish curry. During Durga Puja, we make it a point to try the diverse fish and seafood dishes available at Bengali restaurants, particularly the thalis, which let us savour a bit of everything.
Year after year, the pandals get better and better with innovative themes and designs. I prefer exploring the pandals at night to avoid crowds and traffic, allowing me to cover more ground. I am not rushed and can view the intimate idols and workmanship of the artists at ease. The illumination is fascinating. We organise a pandal-hopping evening for our bakery staff, and it’s so much fun to see them have a gala time and totally spellbound by the magnificent, gigantic, sky-touching pandals.
Nowhere can you see a city come alive with celebration as you see in Kolkata
Music holds a special place in the hearts of many Goans who grew up in Goa. It ranges from the gentle jingle of the “poie man” cycling through villages delivering bread to the lively tunes of festive music. In Goa, we celebrate various festivals like the Goa Carnival, Sao Joao, and the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, all filled with dance, music, and joy. Similarly, Kolkata comes alive with the sound of the shankh (conch), and people dress in their finest attire, with saris and salwars worn so gracefully and gents dressed elegantly. Laughter and music fill the air and nowhere else in the world will you see a sea of heads pandal-hopping with such gaiety and zest into the wee hours of the morning. It’s like the city never sleeps.
For some of us, the attraction is the stalls lined up in front of the pandals, offering fast food like chaats, rolls and chowmein.
Hindustan Club and (right) Tala Prattoy are among Alisha’s must-visit pandals this year
This year I have set my heart on visiting the following pandals:
- Tala Prattoy puja with an ondhokar, shadows, and silhouettes theme
- Hindustan Club puja featuring a nauka (boat) theme
- Behala Nutan Sangha puja with a phuchka theme
- Sreebhumi puja with a Disneyland theme
As the festivities draw to an end with sindoor khela and bhashan (immersion of goddess Durga), it’s time for the city to bid a tearful goodbye. There surely is no place like Kolkata where Durga Puja transcends religion to become a cultural and artistic celebration.
The author is a young Goan who has grown up in Kolkata and is the fourth-generation owner of Saldanha Bakery Kolkata
