The state of West Bengal is not just renowned for its rich history, delectable cuisine, and vibrant culture but also for its colourful festivals that celebrate the spirit and diversity of its people. These festivals offer a unique insight into the culture and history of this region, showcasing a blend of traditional rituals, music, dance, and gastronomy. If you're seeking a cultural adventure like no other, here are some must-attend festivals in West Bengal that promise an unforgettable experience.
Durga Puja, the most popular festival of West Bengal, usually held in September/October, has transcended the boundaries of religious observation. Held at a time when the rest of the country is celebrating Navratri and Dussehra, Durga Puja today is more like an art carnival. Many of the traditional homes now open their doors to visitors, and you may watch the worshipping of the goddess in the magnificent "thakur dalan", often decorated with antique chandeliers.
At the community/neighbourhood celebrations, the rites and rituals are intact. However, the organisers explore various themes where the idols, the temporary marquee, the illuminations, etc., are depicted through artistic expressions. Drawing the eyes of Durga, Navapatrika Snaan, Pushpanjali, Sandhi Puja, Sindur Khela, and immersing oneself in the river are some of the interesting rituals. Visitors can also join the "dhunuchi nach" (dancing with clay pots filled with charcoal) held in the evening. If you are fond of shopping, do not miss the discounted sale of new clothes, which usually begins a month before Durga Puja and intensifies as the festival draws near. One of the easiest ways to get around is joining any Kolkata Durga Puja tour package, usually organised by West Bengal Tourism.
Part of the colonial legacy, Christmas is a popular celebration across West Bengal. Churches are illuminated and decorated with cribs and other festive décor. Most churches allow people of all faiths to join the mass on Christmas Eve. Take a break in Kolkata during Christmas, where cakes, savouries and homemade wine play a crucial role. The Christian families usually take their cake ingredients for baking at the local bakeries. Others flock to bakeries run by Flurys, the Lalit Great Eastern, Nahoum's, etc., for readymade cakes and savouries. One of the last homes of the city's dwindling Anglo-Indian community, the Bow Barracks, decorated with fairy lights, welcome visitors. The Kolkata Christmas Festival, held along Park Street, with a fair at a corner park, is also extremely popular.
Eid-ul-Fitr is one of the famous Muslim festivals observed in West Bengal. Observed at the end of the month-long fasting, the camaraderie is shared with non-Muslims as well. On the day of Eid, Kolkata's Red Road and its adjoining areas see a massive congregation of Muslims at prayer. Also, do not forget to take a Ramzan Food Walk along the lanes around Nakhoda Mosque in Kolkata during iftar (when they break the fast at sundown). You will be surprised by the varieties on offer—ghoogni, pakodas, bakarkhanis and sheermals, haleem, kebabs and biryani, to name a few.
A popular festival observed by several tribal communities in West Bengal, Tusu (Tushu) Parob is a harvest festival, with its genesis a part of local tales. The festival is observed by women. The month-long festival culminates on the day when the rest of the country is celebrating Makar Sankranti (January 14/15). One of the best places to observe the final day of the festival is Purulia in West Bengal. On the day of Makar Sankranti, groups of women carry colourful "choudol" (a cylindrical structure made of bamboo or sticks with bits of coloured paper and other decorative items stuck to it) in a procession, to a water body, usually a stream or a lake. The women float the chaudol in the water, all the time singing songs in honour of the goddess. A huge fair is held in Deulghata, about 30km from Purulia town (accessible from Kolkata by road and rail) on Makar Sankranti, where Tusu floats are also immersed.
Rathayatra, or the chariot festival of Jagannath, is usually held in June/July. The over 600-year-old chariot festival of Mahesh (in Serampore town, nearly 30km from Kolkata by road) is said to be the second oldest, next only to the festival held in Puri. The chariot—50 feet high and weighing 125 tonnes—used during the festival is itself more than a century old, with woodwork covering the iron frame. The deities of Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra reside in a temple next to the Ganga river. On the day of Rathayatra, after the idols are seated in the chariot, the pilgrims pull the chariot along the historic Grand Trunk Road (GT Road) to Kunja Baati (or the aunt's house), where it resides for the next seven days. On the eighth day, the deities return to the temple. Be prepared for a huge crowd on the first and last days of the festival.
Losar, or the Tibetan New Year, is one of the many colourful festivals observed in the hills of Darjeeling. The 15-day festival is observed in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries through mask dances and other rituals. It is usually held in February/March.