As Durga Puja approaches, Kolkata comes alive with dazzling decorations, elaborate pandals and the aroma of delicious street food. The festive spirit is further elevated by music and dance, with some of the finest artistes lighting up stages across the world. Others prefer to stay close to home, enjoying the celebrations with family and friends.
My Kolkata caught up with two popular musicians from the city — percussionist Sukrit Sen and guitarist Bodhisattwa Ghosh — to learn how they spend their time during the Puja festivities, whether performing for audiences or enjoying quiet moments amidst the celebrations.
Sukrit Sen, heritage manager and musician
Percussionist Sukrit Sen shared how Durga Puja influences his work, noting that he usually takes fewer gigs during this time due to the celebrations in his home. “I generally don’t [take more gigs] because I have a Puja in my house,” he explained, adding that those he plays for during the festive season are special — usually friends and family. For his performances, Sen emphasises the use of traditional instruments like the dhaak and dhol, which add to the festive atmosphere. However, unlike normal gigs, he prefers not to do public shows during Puja, as the focus is more on “thakur dekha”.
When not performing, Sen spends Durga Puja at intimate gatherings at home, organising private concerts for close friends and family. He highlighted the dhunuchi naach at his house, which becomes a memorable event when professional musicians and dancers join in, making it feel like a full-fledged performance. For him, these small concerts add a personal touch to his Puja celebrations.
A glimpse of one of his intimate in-house concerts
Music, according to Sen, is central to Durga Puja, with iconic jingles and songs creating lasting memories. “For example, the Shalimar jingle — it’s so old, but I hum it every time around this time of the year,” he said, reflecting on its nostalgic power. This year, he is planning a collaboration that fuses a DJ set of popular Bengali songs with live dhaak performances, which he hopes will engage the listeners and bring new energy to the celebrations.
Bodhisattwa Ghosh, guitarist
The festive season is a busy time for guitarist Bodhisattwa Ghosh and his band Lakkhichhara. Last year, the band toured the USA, performing for the Bengali diaspora over three weeks. This year, they are booked for four concerts across India, including performances in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR from October 9 to 12. "Durga Pujas are actually a pretty busy time for me and my band," he said, highlighting the demand for their music during the festivities.
When it comes to preparing for performances during Durga Puja, Bodhisattwa stressed that the process is no different from any other concert. “We have to go through rigorous rehearsals, plan and design each concert starting from the band’s performance to the sound system and the lights and so on,” he explained, emphasising the importance of delivering their best every time they hit the stage. If he's not performing during Puja, Bodhisattwa prefers quiet downtime, enjoying movies and spending time with his dogs, or occasionally hosting close friends for a relaxed evening.
Though Bodhisattwa doesn't compose jingles, he works as a session guitarist in various projects. This year, he contributed to the background score of the upcoming film Tekka, directed by Srijit Mukherji, with music by Diptarka Bose. He mentioned Lakkhichhara’s involvement in composing Durga Puja anthems for Asian Paints, a tradition that had paused during the pandemic. For Bodhisattwa, music plays a central role in Durga Puja, helping to forge connections and celebrate the triumph of good over evil. “Music is actually a true reflection of such a spirit,” he signed off.
