Durga Puja 2025 Transforms Kolkata into the World’s Biggest Open-Air Festival
The Spirit of Pujo
Durga Puja 2025 is poised to once again sweep across Bengal and much of India with an energy that is both devotional and celebratory. The first hints of the festival can be felt as soon as the monsoon clouds retreat, leaving behind clear blue skies and the soft white tufts of kaash phool swaying in the fields. Streets come alive with artisans putting finishing touches on idols, the rhythmic sound of dhaak drums echoing through neighbourhoods, and the fragrance of freshly applied clay and incense lingering in the air. The entire landscape seems to prepare itself for the Goddess’s arrival, with a palpable sense of excitement building day by day.
Celebration of durga puja is far more than a religious occasion. Spiritually, it celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, reminding devotees of the eternal triumph of good over evil and the unstoppable strength of the divine feminine. Socially, it is a homecoming for many who return to their cities and villages to reunite with family, friends, and childhood memories. The days leading up to the puja witness feverish preparations as entire neighbourhoods collaborate on elaborate pandals, temporary structures that are works of art in themselves – designed to awe visitors with creativity, scale, and innovation. Cultural programmes, theatre performances, and late-night street food gatherings turn the festival into a round-the-clock carnival.
This extraordinary synthesis of faith, art, and community participation earned global recognition in 2021 when Durga Puja was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The recognition highlights not only the religious devotion but also the celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and collective spirit that the festival embodies. In 2025, Durga Puja will once again be a stage where artistry meets spirituality, drawing millions into its embrace with lights, music, aromas of bhog, and the joyous cry of “Bolo Durga Mai Ki – Jai!” ringing through the air.
The Mythology and Symbolism
Durga Puja springs from one of the most powerful legends in Hindu mythology, the story of Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura. Mahishasura, the buffalo demon blessed with near invincibility, overthrew the gods and took control of the heavens. To defeat him, the gods combined their divine energies and created Durga, a resplendent warrior goddess, radiating power and grace. She was gifted weapons by each deity: Shiva’s trident, Vishnu’s discus, Indra’s thunderbolt, and many more. Mounted on her lion, she fought a fierce nine-day battle and finally struck Mahishasura down, restoring cosmic order. This myth forms the heart of the festival, reminding devotees that good always overcomes evil and that divine strength exists within us all.
The Symbolism of Durga’s Image
Every element of Durga’s iconography carries meaning. Her ten arms stand for protection in all directions and the unification of divine forces. Each weapon symbolises a virtue: the sword represents knowledge, the bow and arrow signify focus, the trident shows the power to destroy evil, and the conch shell is the sound of creation and the call to righteousness. The lion she rides represents courage and determination, while Mahishasura, lying beneath her feet, embodies arrogance and ignorance, which must be subdued to allow balance to return.
The Spiritual Rhythm of the Days
The festival is observed over five main days, each carrying its own significance.
- Shashthi marks the invocation of the Goddess, a ritual called Bodhon, signifying her descent to the mortal world.
- Saptami begins with the Kola Bou Snan, the ceremonial bathing of a banana plant, which is dressed as a bride and placed next to Ganesha, symbolising fertility and prosperity.
- Ashtami is considered the most sacred day, filled with devotion as people offer Pushpanjali and gather for Sandhi Puja at the exact juncture between Ashtami and Navami, believed to be the moment when Durga vanquished Mahishasura.
- Navami celebrates the Goddess in her most powerful form, and prayers are offered for protection and blessings.
- Dashami is the day of farewell. Women participate in Sindoor Khela, applying vermillion to the Goddess and to each other, and the idols are taken in grand processions for immersion in rivers or ponds. As the idol is lowered into the water, devotees chant “Asche Bochor Abar Hobe”, which means “She will return next year” — a promise that the Goddess will once again visit her earthly home. This chant echoes through the streets, mingling joy with the quiet melancholy of parting, leaving hearts filled with hope for the next Pujo.
The Puja Calendar for 2025
Mahalaya – 21 September 2025
Mahalaya marks the end of Shraddha Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha, the auspicious fortnight when the Goddess is believed to descend to Earth. Devotees offer prayers for their ancestors, and idol-makers in Kumartuli perform the sacred Chokkhu Daan, painting the eyes of Durga idols. The morning air fills with the timeless radio broadcast of Mahishasura Mardini, which has become the traditional call to herald Pujo.
Maha Panchami – 27 September 2025
Panchami sets the stage for the festival. Rituals such as Bilva Nimantran are performed, and many pandals begin initial offerings. This day also sees the first wave of pandal-hoppers eager to catch a glimpse of the nearly completed decorations.
Maha Shashthi – 28 September 2025
Shashthi is when the festivities truly begin. The Bodhon ritual formally welcomes Goddess Durga to her earthly abode. Pandals are inaugurated, and the air is filled with the beats of dhaaks, conch shells, and the fragrance of incense.
Maha Saptami – 29 September 2025
Saptami begins with Kola Bou Snan, where a banana plant is ceremonially bathed and draped as a bride before being placed next to Ganesha, symbolising fertility and prosperity. Devotees offer Pushpanjali in the morning, and cultural events run late into the night as pandal-hopping reaches full swing.
Maha Ashtami – 30 September 2025
Ashtami is the most auspicious day for many. Devotees gather early for Pushpanjali, and some communities perform Kumari Puja, worshipping a young girl as the living embodiment of the Goddess. The highlight is Sandhi Puja, performed at the exact juncture between Ashtami and Navami, symbolising the climactic moment of Durga’s victory over Mahishasura. The dhaak beats grow intense, and 108 lamps are lit to mark this powerful ritual.
Maha Navami – 1 October 2025
Navami celebrates the Goddess in her most powerful form, Maha Durga. Ayudha Puja is performed in many regions, with people worshipping their tools, vehicles, and instruments of work. Offerings continue through the day, and preparations begin for the emotional farewell of the Goddess.
Vijaya Dashami – 2 October 2025
Dashami is bittersweet, filled with both joy and parting. Married women take part in Sindoor Khela, smearing vermillion on the Goddess and on one another, praying for prosperity and family happiness. Idols are then taken in processions accompanied by music and dancing for immersion in rivers or ponds. The chant of “Asche Bochor Abar Hobe” (She will return next year) rings out, blending tears with smiles as devotees bid the Goddess farewell until the next autumn.
Preparations and Buzz Before Puja
Durga Puja begins long before the first prayer is chanted. Its heartbeat can be felt in Kumartuli, the centuries-old potters’ quarter in North Kolkata, where the festival is born in clay. Narrow lanes are lined with workshops where artisans, or kumars, shape idols from straw and river clay. Months before the festival, these lanes turn into open-air studios where frames are assembled, bodies sculpted, and faces patiently moulded. The final and most sacred act is Chokkhu Daan, the painting of the Goddess’s eyes on Mahalaya, which symbolically brings her to life. Visitors to Kumartuli during this time are treated to a rare view of devotion and craftsmanship blending seamlessly.
Beyond idol-making, preparations reach a fever pitch with the building of pandals, temporary yet breathtaking structures that house the idols. Each year, pandals grow more imaginative, drawing inspiration from art, history, mythology, and even global architecture. Some are miniature recreations of temples, palaces, or famous landmarks, while others are avant-garde installations experimenting with light, sound, and multimedia technology. Sustainability is now a central theme, with eco-friendly clay replacing Plaster of Paris, natural dyes being used for paint, solar-powered lighting installations, and recyclable décor materials ensuring the celebrations remain kind to the environment.
As the days draw closer, the entire city transforms into a living theatre. Music and dance rehearsals echo in neighbourhood clubs, the rhythmic beats of dhaaks start filling the air, and theatre groups prepare plays based on epics and social themes. Streets brim with anticipation as food vendors set up stalls offering Kolkata’s irresistible snacks, phuchka, kathi rolls, chops, and sweets, ensuring that pandal-hoppers are well-fed through the late-night wanderings. The buzz is so electric that even those not usually religious find themselves swept up in the collective excitement, planning routes, dressing in festive clothes, and marking their calendars for the days ahead.
Iconic Pandals & Their 2025 Themes
These pandals are already generating buzz and are likely to be among the most photographed, most visited, and most talked-about:
- Sreebhumi Sporting Club
Theme: Replica of the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, New Jersey, USA.
What to expect: Lavish façade carving, white marble-look finishes, elaborate pillars and domes modelled after Akshardham. Lighting will likely highlight the symmetry and carvings at night. - Santosh Mitra Square
Theme: “Operation Sindoor” (a recent military operation).
What to expect: Dramatic visuals, possibly war-footing and mountain cave motifs, special lighting effects and projections to convey strength and patriotism. - Ekdalia Evergreen Club
Theme: Recreating the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.
What to expect: South Indian temple architecture, tall gopurams, ornate carved wood or wood-like structures, warm lighting, and possibly the use of colour contrasts reflective of temple rituals. - Belgachia Sarbojanin
Theme: “Existence” — a philosophical/artistic exploration of reality and presence.
What to expect: Abstract art installations, minimalism mixed with bold statements, clever lighting that plays with shadows, perhaps installations that force viewers to reflect on being, time, and place.
Artistic Installations & Lighting Innovations
- Temple Replicas & Heritage Forms: Pandals like Ekdalia Evergreen are not just theming but recreating sacred architecture with attention to detail. You will see ornate pillars, sculpted façades, and authentic motifs. These are major draws for both devotees and photographers.
- Message-Driven / Social Themes: Themes like “Operation Sindoor” indicate that pandals are increasingly being used to carry social/patriotic messages. Another example is Belgachia Sarbojanin’s theme around “Existence.”
- Lighting Designs: Expect advanced LED lighting, projection mapping, possibly digital screens to animate parts of the pandal (“moving parts”) or to change visuals through the night. The contrast of warm temple-lights and cooler modern LEDs will be a striking visual.
- Futuristic Elements: Some pandals are experimenting with metallic finishes, outer-space motifs, stainless steel fittings (for example, the mention of “stainless steel armour & crown with a touch of outer space” in one pandal) to give a cosmic or sci-fi feel.
Sustainability, Inclusivity & Immersive Trends
- Eco-friendly Idols and Décor: Many pandals are moving away from Plaster of Paris to natural clay, using natural dyes instead of synthetic paint, and recycling materials for décor. Smaller teams are reusing structures, parts, and even lighting installations across years.
- Waste Management Innovations: Pandals like Tala Prattay durga puja pandal in kolkata in North are planning zero-waste initiatives, turning festival waste (flowers, paper, plastic) into solid fuel or clean energy. This is part of a rising awareness that grand celebrations must also take responsibility for environmental impact.
- Accessibility & Inclusivity: 2025 is seeing more pandals with ramps for wheelchairs, spaces reserved for the aged, restrooms for differently abled people, Braille display stands, etc. This makes puja not just a spectacle but a more inclusive community event.
- Immersive Experiences & AR/VR: Some pandals might integrate augmented reality to enhance visitor interaction (e.g. historical projections, interactive displays). Projections and holographic visuals are likely to be part of lighting shows after dark. Though not every pandal may go full AR/VR, the trend is growing among the high-budget ones.
The Rituals and Ceremonies
Durga Puja is not merely a spectacle of lights and pandals; it is rooted in a sequence of sacred rituals that lend spiritual depth to the celebrations. Each ritual is steeped in meaning, connecting devotees to centuries of tradition and collective memory.
Bodhon on Shashthi
The first ritual that signals the start of the puja is Bodhon, performed on Shashthi. In this ceremony, the Goddess is ritually invoked and awakened, symbolising her descent to the mortal world. The idol is unveiled, prayers are offered, and the festive mood officially begins. For many, Bodhon is a deeply emotional moment, as it marks the transition from days of preparation to the actual worship of the Goddess.
Kola Bou Snan
On Saptami morning, the Kola Bou Snan is performed at dawn. A banana plant, considered the bride of Ganesha, is bathed in a river or water body, draped in a new white saree with a red border, and placed beside Ganesha in the pandal. The ritual symbolises fertility, abundance, and prosperity. The fragrance of flowers, fresh river water, and incense makes this one of the most serene moments of the festival.
Pushpanjali on Saptami and Ashtami
Pushpanjali, or floral offering, is performed on Saptami and repeated on Ashtami, when devotees gather barefoot before the idol. Flowers are cupped in joined palms and offered to the Goddess with the chanting of mantras. It is a moment of stillness amid the bustle, giving devotees a chance to bow their heads and seek blessings.
Sandhi Puja
The most dramatic moment of the festival takes place during Sandhi Puja, at the juncture between Ashtami and Navami. It commemorates the exact moment when Durga defeated Mahishasura. The air vibrates with the deep rhythm of dhaaks and the sound of conch shells, while 108 lamps are lit to honour the Goddess. The ritual is intense and charged with energy, often leaving even first-time visitors spellbound.
Sindoor Khela
On Dashami, married women participate in Sindoor Khela, applying vermillion on the forehead of the Goddess and on each other. It is both a prayer for the long life of their husbands and a celebration of womanhood and community. Women dressed in white sarees with red borders gather in large numbers, filling the pandal with laughter, music, and colour.
Visarjan – The Farewell
The final and most emotional moment of the festival is the immersion, or Visarjan. Idols are taken out in grand processions through streets lined with cheering devotees. Music, dancing, and the beat of drums accompany the Goddess as she is carried to a river or pond. As the idol is immersed, chants of “Asche Bochor Abar Hobe” — “She will return next year” — rise in unison, capturing the bittersweet blend of farewell and hope. The sight leaves an indelible mark on all who witness it, reminding them that the cycle of devotion and celebration will begin again.
The Food Scene
Durga Puja is as much a celebration of the palate as it is of faith and art. The food, woven into every stage of the festival, becomes a language of togetherness, indulgence, and sheer joy.
Bhog – The Sacred Meal
At the heart of Puja is the bhog, a simple yet soul-satisfying meal served to devotees. Prepared in massive cauldrons within the pandals or temples, it usually includes khichuri made of rice and lentils, accompanied by labra, a medley of seasonal vegetables cooked with spices, and payesh, a creamy rice pudding sweetened with jaggery or sugar. What makes bhog extraordinary is not its complexity but its sense of community. Thousands sit shoulder to shoulder, sharing the same meal, erasing social boundaries. For many, the taste of bhog, mingled with the fragrance of ghee and the smoky touch of the wood fire, is inseparable from the very memory of Pujo.
Street Food Extravaganza
As the evenings unfold and pandal-hoppers spill onto the streets, Kolkata turns into one giant food court. Phuchka sellers stand at every corner, balancing crisp shells filled with spicy tamarind water. The sizzle of kathi rolls on hot tawas fills the night air, while stalls dish out golden-brown egg devil chops, fragrant with cinnamon and cloves. And then there is the iconic Kolkata biryani, delicate with potatoes, eggs, and subtle spices, served in generous portions to fuel those late-night pandal trails. Street food during Pujo is not only about taste but about the buzz — the joy of eating in a crowd, the hum of conversation, and the pleasure of standing in line for that one stall everyone swears by.
New-Age Food Pop-ups and Fusion Menus
Modern cafés and restaurants now curate special menus to keep pace with the festive mood. Innovative pop-ups spring up near pandal hotspots, offering quirky twists on traditional fare: phuchka shots paired with mocktails, khichuri arancini with kasundi dips, or payesh transformed into chilled parfaits. Rooftop lounges and boutique cafés design Durga Puja tasting menus that blend global flavours with Bengali favourites. These new-age experiments add a contemporary layer to the festival’s foodscape, appealing to younger generations eager to experience both tradition and novelty.
Tourism, Economy, and Global Attention
Durga Puja today is far more than a festival. It is one of India’s largest socio-economic events and a cultural phenomenon that attracts attention from around the world.
Economic Impact
Durga Puja contributes significantly to West Bengal’s economy. Studies have valued the creative economy around the festival at over ₹32,000 crore, accounting for more than 2.5 percent of the state’s GDP. In Kolkata alone, transactions during the five days of the Puja are estimated at several thousand crores, as spending on pandals, lighting, decorations, food, fashion, transport, and entertainment surges. The festival provides employment to thousands of artisans, electricians, decorators, performers, caterers, and designers, creating a robust ecosystem that powers the state’s economy each autumn.
Tourism Boost
The festival draws millions of domestic travellers to Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal. Many plan their holidays around the Puja dates, boosting hotel occupancy, restaurant footfall, transport bookings, and retail sales. Since the festival was recognised as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, international interest has grown sharply, with thousands of foreign tourists — including members of the Bengali diaspora — visiting every year to witness the spectacle. Special travel packages, curated pandal tours, and cultural performances ensure that even first-time visitors can experience the festival at its most vibrant.
Media and Global Cultural Presence
Durga Puja enjoys extensive media coverage, with television channels, newspapers, and online platforms broadcasting the highlights live. Documentaries and cultural features explore everything from idol-making in Kumartuli to the lighting innovations in major pandals. Social media explodes with content — Instagram Reels of illuminated pandals, street food trails, and snapshots of sindoor khela travel far beyond India’s borders, inspiring global audiences. The festival has become one of India’s most powerful cultural exports, blending tradition with creativity and showcasing Bengal’s unique artistry on an international stage.
The Heartbeat of a City, the Spirit of a People
Durga Puja stands as one of the most powerful expressions of cultural unity in the world. For five unforgettable days, millions of people come together, irrespective of age, background, or belief, to celebrate the Goddess, her victory over evil, and the renewal of life’s rhythms. It is a festival that transcends religion to become a shared human experience, where strangers share bhog at the same table, neighbours collaborate on pandal decorations, and entire cities beat with the same collective heart.
What makes Durga Puja extraordinary is its ability to weave together faith, art, commerce, and community into one seamless celebration. It is a living museum of creativity, a stage for artisans and performers, and a marketplace that sustains countless livelihoods. The festival reminds us that devotion can coexist with design innovation, that ancient myths can be retold through cutting-edge light installations, and that spirituality can create space for joy, fashion, music, and culinary exploration.
As Durga Puja 2025 approaches, there is a renewed commitment to making the celebrations bigger, greener, and more inclusive. Eco-friendly idols, sustainable décor, and accessibility features are becoming the norm, ensuring that this grand festival respects both the environment and the needs of every devotee. The farewell chant of “Asche Bochor Abar Hobe” carries not just the promise of the Goddess’s return, but also a hopeful vision of a future where tradition and progress walk hand in hand.
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