Do you know what is the most exciting question for Bengalis right now? The question is ‘how many days are left for Durga Puja’. Just 3 more nights and it is Mahalaya the next morning and with this, it also marks the beginning of Devi Paksha. The entire West Bengal is gearing up to finish all the major parts of every Durga Puja pandal’s plans. Our surroundings look too beautiful with kaash ful, peja tulo, and thak thak sound of pandal construction. To visit the best pandals in West Bengal, check out this list.
Here’s A List Of This Year’s Most Unique Durga Puja Pandals In West Bengal
1. Hazra Park Durgotsab
South Kolkata’s Hazra Park Durgotsab comes up with an interesting theme every year. For its 81st Durga Puja celebration, the theme is ‘Teen Chakar Golpo’ (Tale of 3 Wheels). Related to a chauffeur of an autorickshaw, the theme is quite interesting and the thought behind this is so special. This year’s theme is the tale of auto-rickshaw drivers presented by the Hazra Park Durgotsav committee. From setting an auto stand to showing their life stories, something grand is coming up.
2. Youth Association Of Mohammad Ali Park
For the 55th year of Durgatsob, the Youth Association of Mohammad Ali Park’s theme is Kedarnath Temple. Maa Durga and her entourage are being welcomed in the serene surroundings of the holy temple’s recreation. You do not need to visit Uttarakhand now as Baba Kedarnath is coming to the City of Joy for darshan. Devotees are going to get beautiful glimpses of the holy shrine this year.
3. Tarapukur Ghospara
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Have you been to Varanasi yet? If not, do not worry as you can soon get to experience the magnificence of the city and its renowned Ganga Aarti in West Bengal. Agarpara Kolkata Durga Puja Pandal in Tarapukur Ghoshpara is recreating Banaras Ganga Ghat for this year’s Durga Puja. With 75 ft tall Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Ratneshwar Mahadev Mandir, Manikarnika Ghat, Munshi Ghat, and more, the pandal committee is coming up with something spectacular this year.
4. A9 Square Park Durga Puja
Here’s a glimpse of the pandal construction shared by A9 Square Park Durga Puja (@a9durgapuja).
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It is a dream of many devotees to take part in the Chardham Yatra and explore the four holy sites. Well, sometimes some people cannot fulfill this dream because of many reasons. It is time to witness the glory of the Chardham in the grandest way possible right in West Bengal’s Kalyani. This city is known for celebrating Durga Puja in massive pandals with pomp and glory. For 2023, the A9 Square Park Durga Puja’s theme is Chardham and you need to head here to experience the grandeur of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
Also read: Why Do Bengali Women Wear White Saree With Red Border (Lal Paar Shaada Saree) During Durga Puja?
5. Pallir Jubak Brinda Club
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2023 has been a great year till now regarding India’s achievements in global platforms. From sports to extravagant missions, India witnessed some magnificent achievements this year. We all are proud of ISRO’s exceptional achievement with Chandrayaan-3. And to celebrate and honour this massive victory, North Kolkata’s Pallir Jubak Brinda Club is celebrating Durga Puja by building a pandal that is a huge replica of Vikram Lander. Maa Durga is going to sit on the lander and it is being constructed on the ground looking just like the lander on the Moon’s surface.
6. Young Boys Club
To celebrate the 54th year of Durga Puja, Kolkata’s Young Boys Club has come up with the theme of ‘Devi Durga – The Power of Universe’. The 32-foot Maa Durga idol is going to have 10 globes on her 10 hands to represent ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – The World is one family.
7. Sodepur Nabodoy Sangha Durgaotsob
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Potterheads, there is a massive surprise for you! Head to the Sodepur Nabodoy Sangha Durgaotsob and enjoy the surreal experiences of exploring Hogwarts during Durga Puja this year.
8. Belgharia 17 Pally
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Belgharia 17 Pally is constructing a spectacular Durga Puja pandal by recreating Egyptian Pyramids. From having a pyramid as tall as 66 feet to white sand spread all around the area, the pandal is going to look unimaginably beautiful.
9. Sreebhumi Sporting Club
Visitors have started exploring this iconic Puja pandal from Mahalaya and the crowd is simply just crazy. There are so many reasons behind the name and fame of this Puja pandal and its unique presentation each and every year is the biggest reason. This year, the theme is Disneyland. With statues of our favourite childhood cartoons and stunning craftsmanship, the pandal looks excellent. Another major highlight is the beautiful idols.
10. Mudiali Club Sarbojonin Durga Puja
Rajani Sen Road’s Mudiali Club is known for its iconic Durga Puja pandals every year. For the 89th year of the glorious celebrations, the pandal committee decided to curate and present something new. Brass and foam have been used in making this. The intricate designs are a treat to watch.
11. Tala Prattay
The theme of Tala Prattay for this year is ‘Kahan’ and the artist behind the magical pandal is artist Sushanta Pal. The humongous pandal has been adorned with lights and extraordinary decor. The smallest of intricacies in every corner of the gigantic pandal look mesmerising. There is a lot of hype about this pandal and the exquisite craftsmanship justifies all the hype.
12. Behala Nutan Dal Durga Puja
Safir (@safiranand) took to the X (formerly Twitter) platform to share a video of one of the most famous Durga Puja pandals in the city.
I am amazed at the depth of creativity in India. Here a whole pandal is made of puchkas with artists from Bengal. I wish to work in this area to highlight the rich creativity of India. Tala park
I love my India🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 #creativity #loveIndia #pandaal #bengal #puchkaas pic.twitter.com/xDYfgbmuQX— Safir (@safiranand) October 15, 2023
The theme of this famous South Kolkata pandal is ‘Tushti’ (satisfaction). The walls and ceiling of this magnificent pandal have been adorned with Kolkata’s favorite street food, phuchka. From rolling pin and board to cane stands, and phuchkas served in saal pata, glass boxes, and more are added to deck up the interiors of the Behala Nutan Dal Durga Puja pandal.
13. College Square Pandal
The theme of this famous North Kolkata pandal is Mysore Palace and the recreation looks magnificent. The Puja pandal committee is celebrating its 76th year of Durga Puja in 2023. The grand pandal and its interiors and intricacies are a must-visit.
14. Santosh Mitra Square Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity
The theme for North Kolkata’s famous Santosh Mitra Square Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity is Ram Mandir. The pandal committee has recreated the model of the much-awaited temple in Ayodhya. The interiors of the pandal have been decked up with plywood, colours, fibre, thermocol, and more. The decor includes different stories of Lord Ram on the walls and statues of Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman.
15. Tala Park
People often get confused between Tala Prattay and Tala Park and let me clear the confusion by saying that these two are completely different pandals. The exterior of Tala Park pandal is quite interesting with quotes written on the walls. The staircase decor looking like a chess board is an amazing representation.
16. Jorasanko Sadharon Durgotsav
Jorasanko Sadharon Durgotsav near Girish Park metro station is the next Durga Puja pandal on our list. The puja committee recreated the Kantara theme this year with colourful representation, structures of Kola, aesthetic lights, and splendid decor and intricacies in walls and corners. Designs crafted on both the interiors and exteriors of the pandal present the excellent craftsmanship of the artists behind this pandal.
17. Ekdalia Evergreen Club
This is one of South Kolkata’s most famous pandals and it attracts a humongous number of crowd each and every year. In 2023, Ekdalia Evergreen Club is celebrating its 81st year of Durga Puja and the biggest highlight is the extravagant pandal, extraordinary lighting, and exquisite decor. The idol of Maa Durga is about 26 feet tall.
Also read: How Salt Played An Important Role In Bhattacharya Family’s Durga Puja Celebration In Hooghly
18. Tridhara Sammilani
South Kolkata’s renowned Tridhara Sammilani Durga Puja pandal is celebrating its 77th year of celebration this year. For the glorious occasion, the pandal committee chose the theme to be ‘Utshob’ (festival). The interiors of this pandal on Manoharpukur Road have been constructed using electrical pipes and metal objects. Like every previous year, visiting this pandal is a must and its exquisite craftsmanship is worth all the hype.
19. Behala Barisha Club
For this Puja pandal in Behala, the club committee has chosen the theme of ‘Bhanga-Gora’. This pandal represents the journey of growing up from a negative aspect of life. The pandal has been decked up with beautiful structures of cement, sand, bricks, and more. The idols are quite unique and the entire representation looks stunning.
20. Hindustan Club
The theme for South Kolkata’s Hindustan Club is Dariyapar (Crossing the River). In the 61st year of Durga Puja celebrations, the club is showcasing craftsmanship that represents the blend of traditions with modern artistry. You need to visit here to see the journey of one’s life through different high and low experiences.
Are you excited to visit all these Durga Puja pandals this year?
Cover Image Courtesy: Press release
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