Durga Puja is that time of the year when the City of Joy truly lives up to its name. It pulsates with a unique euphoria and you can almost smell it in the air. Every corner is abuzz with activity, from the narrow alleys of Kumartuli where the idols are made to the bazaars filled with the aroma of incense and flowers. Kolkata comes alive during Durga Puja. There's last minute shopping for new clothes, traditional houses are busy painting and cleaning their arched porticos or thakur dalans, while artisans are working overtime putting the final touches to their creations. The city is soaked in a festive fervour that is worth experiencing. One of the best ways to experience Durga Puja in Kolkata is via themed tours. Here are a few you can sign up for.
Take A Whole Night Pujo Tour In Kolkata
The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (WBTDCL) is organising a whole night tour of pujo pandals in the city. The seven-hour tour called Udbodhani - Sarbajanin Pujo Parikrama will set off from Rabindra Sadan and take you through the famous paara (neighbourhood) pujos of Kolkata. You can experience the famous pujos of both north and south Kolkata such as the one at College Square, Mohammed Ali Park, Badamtola Ashar Sangha, Ekdalia Evergreen, Singhi Park, and Hindustan Road. There will be two tours, on October 17 and 18, from 10pm to 5am. The tour cost is INR 2,099 and it includes dinner. Book here.
A Local And Immersive Experience
Sign up for a 3-hour walking tour of some of the most interesting pandals in the neighbourhoods of Old Kolkata that have withstood the test of time. The tour attempts to depict how locals celebrate the event through temple visits, food, friends, and customs. This tour gives you a real Pujo experience, taking you through various forms of local transportation, discussing mythology, art and history. You will also indulge in Kolkata's famous street food. Did you know that Kolkata made it to award-winning media brand Eater's list of the world's best culinary destinations in 2023?
Book seats here.
Explore Old Pujos With The Hooghly Safari
While Durga Puja in Kolkata is known for its glitz and glamour, the neighbouring district of Hooghly is also not far behind. You can check out some of the popular Durga Pujas organised by the traditional households in the district with WBTDCL who are organising whole-day tours. The Hooghly Safari includes a visit to Sreerampur Goswami Bari Puja in Serampore, a former Danish colony located around 30 km north of Kolkata, across the Hooghly river. Here Durga Puja is held on one side of a pavilion that is flanked by a grandly colonnaded courtyard.
The mansion is also well-known as a filming set for several Bengali and Hindi language films. The tour also takes you to see the unique Hanseswari temple. Sometimes likened to an English castle, sometimes to the Russian Orthodox Church, its unique spires have been designed based on the tenets of Hindu Tantric philosophy. The Hooghly Safari tours are running from Oct 21 to 23, from 7am to 8:30pm. The tour cost is INR 3,499. You can book seats here.