A ‘kolabou’ being carried after ‘nabapatrika snan’, a ritual typical of Saptami, at a Ganga ghat in north Kolkata and (below) women dance in joy to mark the occasion
Ashim PaulDhakis in action during ‘kolabou snan’ at a north Kolkata ghat on Saptami
Ashim PaulThe goddess comes alive at the Haridevpur 41 Pally Durga puja pandal in a lifelike figure. The theme of the puja, Ablution, is a tribute to sacred cleansing. Visitors are transported to the sacred ghats of Varanasi, where the divine meets the earthly. The intricately crafted Munshi Ghat replica faithfully recreates the aura of Varanasi. Lifelike statues of saints can be seen inside
Sannidh RaychaudhuriA giant head of Durga is the pandal at the 66 Pally puja in Kalighat. The puja tells the story of the multifaceted deity’s creations, emphasising the truth of ‘maati’ (soil) and society
Arnab DuttaFerris wheel, merry-go-round and other thrilling rides beckon the young and old alike well past midnight at the Salt Lake BJ Block ‘mela’. The pandal here is Lord Shiva-themed
Sannidh RaychaudhuriSelfie time at Maddox Square and (right) dhaakis set the mood
Arnab DuttaSashthi evening crowd at Maddox Square, the No. 1 adda zone
Arnab DuttaKolkata Traffic Police sergeants guide pandal-hoppers at the Manicktala crossing on Saptami afternoon
Arnab DuttaThe crowd at the Newtown Sarbojonin puja at 2am on Sashthi
Sannidh Raychaudhuri