Pandal-hoppers came out in numbers on Tritiya, more so because it was a Sunday.

Most of the big-ticket pujas have already opened for visitors and thousands of early birds made the most of the opportunity.

The puja in Tridhara Sammilani, near Deshapriya Park, had a crowd of visitors around 3.30pm.

Ahindra Datta, wife Sumana and daughter Ashmi were part of a large group out pandal-hopping. They live in a housing complex in Sibrampur in Behala Chowrasta, around 4km from Diamond Harbour Road

“This is the best time to see the famous pujas. In a couple of days, these pandals will be so crowded that you will have to sweat a lot to get in and out,” said Datta.

The slice of south Calcutta between Chetla and
Gariahat had a series of famous pujas. As a result, both flanks of Rashbehari Avenue had a steady stream of visitors for the better part of
Sunday.

Of the variety of stalls around puja pandals, the ones selling ice cream were the busiest. Phuchka stalls would be a close second. Four phuchka stalls stood one after another outside the Ekdalia Evergreen pandal. All four had customers around 3pm.

Abhisek Chowdhury and wife Anwesta, both employees of the state forest department, had come to Ekdalia with daughter Aaradhya.

They live in Kasba. “We try to visit the nearby pujas before the real rush starts. We will go to north Calcutta and other places later,” said Anwesta.

Anindya De, who lives in Chadernagore in Hooghly, had come with wife Soumita and daughters Debasmita and
Anindita.

“I am involved in the puja in my neighbourhood. I will be busy on most days. So, we thought to make the most of Sunday and visit some pujas in Calcutta,” said De.

Many small traders who look forward to Durga Puja for some extra income set up their wares on Sunday.

Rabi Sardar, who sells imitation jewellery outside Mudiali, was one of them. Sardar comes from Champahati in South 24-Parganas.

“I look forward to this one week. If the income is decent, I buy new clothes for my family members,” said Sardar, father of a nine-year-old girl.

Most eateries remained crowded throughout the day as pandal-hoppers stopped for a quick lunch or an elaborate meal.

Metro trains were packed. Stations like Kalighat and Esplanade were among the busiest because of pandal- hoppers and shoppers alike.

Buses were crowded and app cab fares saw a surge, especially if the destination was a shopping hub or a famous puja.

Volunteers managing the queue at Shibmandir Sarbojanin Durgotsab were busy asking pandal-hoppers to keep moving and not obstruct the passage.

“Many people, especially senior citizens, prefer coming to pandals before Sashthi. Since today is a holiday, the number has gone up,” said one of them.