Durga Puja is one of the grandest and most-awaited Indian festivals in October 2024. It is a most spectacular celebration in the Indian state of Bengal. However, the festival is celebrated with equal enthusiasm wherever Bengalis are in the world. About two dozen of Durga Puja events in New Jersey and New York transform the northeast cost into a mini Bengal with cultural exuberance this time of the year. Bengali associations across New York and New Jersey started preparations months ago, so that the festivity does not fall short of joy and happiness in their adopted home. They can live away from home, but can’t survive without the blessings of Maa Durga, the bliss of bhoger kichudi, the beats of dhak, and the ecstasy of dunuchi naach.

Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, recommends some of the best places for Durga puja 2024 in New York and New Jersey.  “Elo re Dugga elo re…” 

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First-ever Durga Puja at Times Square, New York

2024 will see the first-ever Durga Puja celebration at Times Square, a most happening commercial hub in New York City. Usually, Times Square is a popular venue for Diwali, Yoga, and Indian Independence Day celebrations. Unlike other Durga puja events in USA, the 2-day Times Square Durga Puja is a free event for all, regardless of their nationality and religion. It is being organized by Bengali Club of USA .

• Date: October 5 and 6
• Contact: ecdpanewyork@gmail.com, +1315-586-3372

Sanskriti Durga Puja 2024: Buffalo, New York

Sanskriti, a Bengali cultural association in Buffalo, is one of the best and oldest Durga Puja celebrations in New York. Founded in 1974-75, the Sanskriti Durga Puja is a cultural platform for the present generation of Bengali Diaspora in the northeast US to have a tryst with their heritage, literature, and traditions thousands of miles away from India. Sanskriti also celebrates other festivals with equal enthusiasm. They also organize Kojagori Lokkhi puja at the same venue.

Sanskriti is looking forward to a live performance by Snigdhajit Bhowmik and his band of musicians on October 6. Their event was graced by such renowned performing artists as Purna Das Boul and Bhupen Hazarika in the years gone by.

• Dates: October 4,5, and 6
• Venue: Hindu Cultural Society, 1595 N French Road, Getzville, NY 14068
• Contact: president@buffalosanskriti.org, +1 716-331-7657
• Website: Buffalosanskriti.org

New York Kali Mandir Durga Puja, Baldwin

New York Kali Mandir located close to JFK International Airport is the destination if you wish to celebrate Durga Puja in the most traditional manner. Inspired by the Dakshineswar Kali Temple of Kolkata, NYKM is home to Goddess Kali worshiped by Bengalis and other Indian communities. Founded in 2005, the temple doubles up as a community organization and helps preserve the age-old Bengali cultural traditions in New Yok Metropolitan Area. The temple has a well-stocked library for all age groups. Those interested in volunteering can serve the temple this Durga Puja.    

• Dates: October 8 to 12
• Venue: 614 Seaman Ave, Baldwin, NY, 11510
• Contact: nykmdevotee@gmail.com, +1 516-771-5254
• Website: Nykalimandir.org

Also read: Sanyal Brothers Offer Best Kolkata Street Food with Chai in New York

Durga Puja at Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center of New York

Durga Puja at the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center of New York for the followers of the Ramakrishna order is among the best Durga puja celebrations in the Greater New York Area. Founded in 1933, the center organizes the puja to worship the Divine Mother and seek Her blessings for the humankind. The chanting of sacred hymns and the singing of devotional songs in chorus are the mainstay of their celebration without pomp and in strict adherence to the principles laid out by Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Missions worldwide.   

• Dates: October 13
• Venue: 17 E 94th St, New York, NY 10128
• Contact: (212) 534-9445
• E-mail:  rvcenternewyork@gmail.com
• Website: Ramakrishna.org

East Coast Cultural Association Durga Puja, NY

The East Coast Cultural Association, one of the youngest communities in New York, has planned a spectacular Durga puja celebration this year to mark its third anniversary. Founded in 2022, the non-profit Bong organization strives to create the ambience of parar pujo in Kolkata through a grand display of traditional Bengali culture, ranging from mouthwatering dishes to live music programs, at their puja venue. The schedule of ECCA Durga Puja 2024 includes three musical evenings by Somlata on OCT 18, Snigdhajit Bhowmik on OCT 19, and Prashmita Paul on OCT 20.

• Dates: October 18, 19 and 20
• Venue: Gujarati Samaj Hall, 17315 Horace Harding Expy, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365
• Contact: eastcoastcultural@gmail.com
• Website: Eccany.com

Utsov Durga Puja 2024 in New Jersey

Utsov Inc. is known for one of the biggest Durga Puja events in New Jersey. Their celebration, both traditional and contemporary, has a number of ‘wow’ factors – delectable Bengali food, Sindoor Khela, Dhunuchi dance, cultural programs, and art competition for kids. East Brunswick near Edison is the location of their puja venue that will turn into a Disneyland of festivities and revelry for two days as Utsov Inc. has invited Deep Chatterjee, a renowned folk singer, and Saberi Bhattacharya, a popular playback singer, to enthral the audience with folk music of Bengal.

Krosswindz, a Grassroot Grammy Award winning folk-fusion band from Kolkata, will churn out popular folk numbers and take the exuberance of Utsov Durga Puja 2024 celebration to the fever pitch on October 13. Prior registration is compulsory to enter the venue and attend the live band shows.

• Dates: October 12 and 13
• Contact: 732 648 7461 or 313 338 8768, utsov@utsov.org
• Venue: Jo Ann Magistro Performing Arts Center, 200 Rues Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 
• Website: Utsov.org

Also read: Indian Food is a Pure Bliss at This Temple Kitchen in New York

Garden State Puja Committee’s 43rd Durga Puja in New Jersey

One of the oldest and biggest Durga Puja events in New Jersey is organized by the Bengalis of Garden State Puja Committee, Jersey City. GSPC Durga Utsov 2024 will celebrate its 43rd anniversary over foot-tapping numbers of the most popular bands, Cactus on 12 OCT and Chandrabindoo on 13 OCT. Bongobhoj – a traditional Bengali food fare – is the mainstay of their celebration.

The pandal modelled on thakur dalan, a distinct feature of mansions dating back to the feudal era of Bengal, has already been shipped from Kolkata to New Jersey. This is the biggest attraction of GSPC Durga Puja in Jersey City this year.

• Dates: October 12 and 13
• Venue: William L. Dickinson High School, 2 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
• Contact: +1 201-993-4577 | info@gardenstatepuja.org
• Website: gspcnj.com

New Jersey Kallol Durga Puja 2024  

Among the Durga Puja celebrations in New Jersey, Kallol Durga Puja hits the headlines every year. Of the oldest Bengali organizations in the northeast coast, Kallol will transform Somerset into a mini city of joy with cultural and musical extravaganza for 4 days, OCT 10-13.

Babul Supriyo will make the audience groove to his hit numbers on October 10, while the Nandi sister duo will set the stage on fire with their foot-tapping music on October 11. Madhubanti Bagchi from Mumbai will take over the stage on October 12 and her soulful songs will make the evening unforgettable. Kallol New Jersey Durga Puja 2024 will culminate in amazing rides on a rollercoaster of music by Piu Mukherjee and Sudesh Bhosle on October 13.

• Dates: October 10 to 13
• Venue: Ukranian Cultural Center, 135 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, New Jersey 08873
• Contact: 732.290.5218
• Website: Kallol.com

Also read: Why Bengal worships living goddesses during Durga puja

Agrani Durga Puja, Plainfield NJ

Agrani Durga Puja in Plainfield near Edison is one of the 10 best Indian events in New Jersey in October 2024. Like WomenNow TV’s Durga Puja in California, the women members of Agrani NJ organize the puja, from fabulous feasting to cultural extravaganza. Equally popular with the Bong and non-Bengalis in Central New Jersey, Agrani Durga Puja promises to be an exhilarating experience for music connoisseurs, as singer Javed Ali of ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, ‘Delhi-6’, and ‘Rockstar’ fame from Delhi will set the stage on fire on OCT 6.

• Dates: October 5 and 6
• Venue: Plainfield High School, 950 Park Avenue
• Contact: Info@agranicnj.org

Alor Benu Durga Puja in Edison, NJ 

The ‘Ekchala’ style Durga idol is the main attraction of this humble celebration by a few Bengali families in Edison, NJ. This is more a gharoa (homely) puja than a community puja. The festive evenings from October 4-6 will see various cultural indulgences by the organizers and their families. The puja schedule is chock-a-block with traditional rituals from pushpanjali to the Goddess in the morning to dhunuchi naach in the evening to family dinner at night.

• Dates: October 4,5,6
• Venue: 2 Farmhaven Avenue, Edison, NJ 08820
• Contact: aamantran@aalorbenu.net, 207-807-7556 (Suvro)

New Jersey Ananda Mandir Durga Puja 2024

Durga Puja at Ananda Mandir in New Jersey is a most traditional one. Hundreds of New Jersey Indians throng the shrine to immerse themselves in festive revelries for five days. New Jersey Ananda Mandir is one of the few Hindu temples in USA that follows the Bengali calendar precisely for celebrating Durga Puja and other festivals. The temple that also doubles up as an Indian cultural center was commissioned in 1995 and completed in 2003. You may need to pre-register online. On successful registration, you would receive a confirmation email, which you can show to the volunteers at the temple complex.

• Dates: October 8 to 12
• Venue: 269 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873-5212
• Contact: (732) 873-9821 or info@anandamandir.org
• Website: Anandamandir.org

Garden State Cultural Association: Plainfield, NJ

Among the best places for Durga Puja 2024 in New Jersey, Garden State Cultural Association (GSCA) is gearing up for their 33^rd year of the celebration. GSCA, a nonprofit Indian American organization of Bengalis in Plainfield, leaves no stone unturned to make Durga Puja a grand get-together of not only Bengalis but also other Indian communities over delicious food, shopping, and cultural entertainment. The interesting lineup of events include talent shows and drawing competitions.

Registration is compulsory to attend the celebration, especially the cultural programs. You can register on their website given below. Popular Indian singers Richa Sharma and Pousali Banerjee are among the eminent guests this year.  

• Dates: October 19 and 20
• Venue: Plainfield High School, 950 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
• Contact: (908) 754-3079 or contact@gsca.us
• Website: web.gsca.us

Also Read: Payal Saha’s Kati Roll from Kolkata Rocks in New York

Bengali Cultural Society Durga Puja: South Jersey

Of New Jersey Indian events in October 2024, Bengali Cultural Society’s Durga Puja celebration is a lot more than food, fun and frolic. Rather, it mirrors the rich cultural heritage of Bengal on the American soil. Founded in 1978, Bengali Cultural Society is not just one of the oldest Bengali diaspora associations but a philanthropic organization too. They publish their own magazine Sanskriti every year and run a Bengali language school for their young ones and those interested in learning the language. Each day of the puja will culminate in an authentic Bengali community dinner.

You can check out their extensive menu for festive bhuribhoj on their Facebook page. Among the Durga Puja organizers in USA, only BCS South Jersey is presenting ‘Chitrangada‘, Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s dance drama based on a popular tale from the Mahabharata.

• Dates: October 11, 12 and 13
• Venue: Indian Cultural Center, 820 NJ-73, Marlton, NJ 08053
• Contact: info@bcssj.org
• Website: Bcssj.org

New Jersey Bharat Sevashram Sangha Durga Puja

The New Jersey chapter of Bharat Sevashram Sangha celebrates Durga Puja to worship the Supreme Power of the universe. The chanting of slokas and hymns reverberates in the air of the ashram temple on the five days of Durga Puja. Devotees can soak in numinous vibes that the ambience is rife with this time of the year. Bharat Sevashram Sangha is one of the few places where all the rituals of Durga Puja are strictly followed in compliance with the scriptures. Devotees are requested to pre-register for the puja.

• Dates: October 8 to 13
• Location: 3490 Route-27 Kendral Park, New Jersey 08824
• Contact: 732 422 8880/ 347 735 2984 | devotees@sevashramsangha.org
• Website: sevashramsangha.org

Trinayani Durga Puja in Plainsboro, New Jersey

A non-profit organization established in 2022 with the aim to promote India’s rich art and culture, Trinayani is eyeing a theme-based Durga Puja celebration in a grander fashion this year. In its inaugural year (2022), Trinayani was the first and only one to have worshipped the protima (idol) made by Prabasi Bengalis among the community members. The Bong being great foodies complement their festivities with sumptuous food.

The musical acts to be performed by Raghab Chatterjee and jazzy Somlata Chowdhury, on October 2 and 13 respectively, will make you not only groove to live music but also feel nostalgic. You may contact Trinayani for registrations.

• Dates: October 12 and 13
• Venue: Community Middle School, Plainsboro Township, NJ, USA
• Contact: contact@trinayaninj.org  
• Website: www.trinayaninj.org

PBA Agomoni and Durga Puja 2024

Princeton Bengali Association in New Jersey will invoke Maa Durga on Mahalaya (September 29) through their ‘Agomoni’ program and celebrate Durga Puja on October 20 in Plainsboro. Dhunuchi naach, Sindoor khela and other traditional rituals are the hallmarks of their humble celebration. Rishi Panda, a popular YouTuber and singer, has been invited for a musical evening at PBA Durga Puja in New Jersey. The event is free for kids (5 years and below).

• Date: 20 October
• Venue: Community Middle School, Plainsboro NJ
• Contact: pbanj.org

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The post These Durga Puja Events in New York and New Jersey Turn East Coast into a Mini Bengal This Time of Year appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Durga Puja is one of the globally celebrated Indian festivals. Be it California, Canberra, or Canada, Indians celebrate the homecoming of Goddess Durga and her children in so grand way as if there is no tomorrow. Especially Bengalis don’t mind borders or bounds when it comes to nourishing their cultural roots and celebrating their festive traditions this time of the year. With Indian Bengalis growing in numbers, California has become home to some of the best Durga Puja events in USA.

As the beating of dhak has started resonating in the air; the fragrance of Sheuli flowers has started filling the atmosphere, Indian Eagle – a most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians in USA – recommends the following best places for Durga Puja 2024 events in California.

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Los Angeles Durga Puja: Dakshini Bengali Association, CA 

Dakshini Bengali Association of California hosts one of the biggest Durga Puja events 2024 in the Great Los Angeles Area. A nonprofit, charitable, cultural organization; Dakshini Bengali Association, California, has a great lineup of events including live concerts to enthrall the audience during the celebration. Among the performing artists on the guest list is Richa Sharma, an Indian playback singer, who will perform on October 12. Another live performance by Prashmita Paul and Dipaayan Banerjee is scheduled on October 11. Both are ticketed shows at Dakshini.  

• Dates: October 11, 12 and 13
• Venue: Torrance High School, 2200W Carson St, Torrance CA | Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Manhattan Beach Boulevard, LA County
• Contact: Communications@dakshini.org, +1 310-895-6094

Also Read: Amazing Things to Know about Durga Puja

Bay Area Prabasi Durga Puja 2024

Bay Area Prabasi, a nonprofit Bengali Cultural Organization in Alameda County, is hosting the biggest Durga Puja celebration in North America this year as a mark of the community’s 51st anniversary. Famed for one of the oldest and best Durga Puja events in California, Bay Area Prabasi is known for its simplicity and sophistication rather than extravagance.

On October 11, Bay Area Prabasi Durga Puja presents Chandalika, a gripping dance drama by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The evening of October 12 will rock with an enthralling performance ‘Jai Ho’ by Sukhwinder Singh from India. The Bengalis’ love for retro Bollywood music will be brimming over during a live performance by Trijoy and Chandrika. The performance titled ‘Down the Memory Lane’ is a tribute to Lata Mangeshkar, Bappi Lahiri, Asha Bhonsle, Manna Dey, and Hemanta Mukherjee.

The cultural celebration will culminate with Cactus’ Reunion on the Sunday evening, October 13.

• Dates: October 11, 12 and 13
• Venue: Santa Clara Fairgrounds, 131 Old Tully Road, San Jose CA 95111
• Contact: info@prabasi.org, 626-277-7932
• Website: Prabasi.org

BASC Durgotsav 2024, Southern California

BASC, the Bengali Association of Southern California, hosts one of the best Durga Puja celebrations in California. A nonprofit philanthropic organization in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, BASC is among the few best places to catch up with Indians and indulge in Bengali culture during Durga Puja away from home. 

On October 18, the first day of the puja, the Bengali Association of Southern California will present an unforgettable evening with Nandy Sisters, the social media sensation duo in playback singing. A live performance by Sukhwinder Singh will make you grove to hit Bollywood numbers on October 19.

• Dates: October 18, 19 and 20
• Venue: Bridges Auditorium, 450 N College Way, Claremont, CA 91711
• Contact: info@bascweb.org, 714-342-5266, +1 626-390-1224
• Website: bascweb.org

Also Read: How Goddess Kali Came to California from Kolkata

Pashchimi Durga Puja 2024, Bay Area

Wondering where to celebrate Durga Puja in SF Bay Area? One of the most popular California Durga puja events 2024, Bay Area Pashchimi Durga Puja is an unmatched celebration of Bengali culture and traditions. Founded in 2004 as a nonprofit organization, Pashchimi has teamed up with Children International for this puja. Children International strives to provide underprivileged girl children with seamless access to education in India. Pashchimi Durga Puja is known for its adherence to age-old traditions. October 22 is a DJ and dandiya night at Pashchimi.  

• Dates: October 9 to 13
• Venue: Oasis Palace Restaurant, 35145 Newark Blvd, CA
• Contact: contact@pashchimi.org, 408-883-5304
• Website: Pashchimi.org

Santa Clara WomenNow Durga Puja, SF Bay Area

Of Bay Area Durga Puja events 2024, WomenNow TV’s Durga Utsav in Santa Clara is a unique, all-women celebration. Inspired by the idea of celebrating the collective power of women in real, WomenNow TV’s CEO Ena Sarkar and her team organize the festivity every year. Ena Sarkar, the founder and CEO of WomenNow TV, a South Asian talk show, is at the helm of this California Durga Puja. Their celebration starts with pushpanjali on Maha Ashtami and ends with sindoor khela on Maha Dashami. The outdoor event features shopping markets, street food stalls, and cultural activities including Dandiya nights.

Read our exclusive article on Santa Clara Durga Utsav by WomenNow TV.

The traditional festivity will follow a Tauba Tauba Dandiya evening on October 11. It is a ticketed event and the entry fee is $10 per person. Since festivities and revelry go hand in hand, WomenNow TV organizes a DJ night on the evening of October 12 for its members and other attendees.

• Dates: October 12 and 13
• Venue: 617 Jackson Ave, San Jose, CA
• Contact: info@womennow.tv, +1 510-364-4271

Los Angeles Durga Puja 2024: Valley Bengali Community

Valley Bengali Community’s Durga puja is another grand celebration in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Musical evenings are a highlight of their event. The 9th Durgotsav celebration by Valley Bengali Community will see gripping performances by none other than Usha Uthup and Cactus band from Kolkata. Usha Uthup, who needs no introduction, and Cactus will set the stage on fire with electrifying rock music on October 4 and 5 respectively. Both are ticketed programs. You can enjoy classic and contemporary music, from Rabindra Sangeet to retro numbers to folk music and Bollywood hits.

• Dates: October 4 to 6
• Venue: Birmingham Community Charter High School, 17000 Haynes St, Van Nuys, CA 91406
• Contact: vbc@valleybengali.org, 818-564-6592
• Website: Durga.valleybengali.org

SAIKAT Durga Puja 2024, San Diego

Among Southern California Durga Puja events, SAIKAT Durgotsav 2024 has a great lineup of cultural programs, including a melodious evening, a dance drama, a stage play and other performing arts by different age groups. SAIKAT, the Bengali Association of San Diego, is an active philanthropic organization volunteering hours for and contributing to charities. On the occasion of Durga Puja, SAIKAT releases an annual magazine wherein their community members’ literary and creative writeups find space.

• Dates: October 12 and 13
• Venue: San Pasqual High School, San Diego
• Contact: ec@saikat.org
• Website: Saikat.org

Also Check: What Makes Travel to Kolkata Cheaper and Better

Baybasi Durga Puja 2024, Foster City

For the past 15 years, BayBasi has been organizing one of the best Durga Puja events in San Francisco Bay Area. Their handmade pandal set against the panoramic view of a lagoon in the backdrop is a must-see attraction. A leading non-profit organization of Bengalis in Foster City, BayBasi has a crowd-pulling schedule of cultural programs including dandiya and DJ night on October 4, the first day of the celebration.

• Dates: October 4, 5 and 6
• Venue: REC Center Meadows, Foster City, CA 94404
• Contact: +1 650-489-8139 | baybasi@baybasi.us
• Website: Baybasi.us

Santa Barbara Vedanta Temple Durga Puja 2024

The Vedanta Society of Southern California organizes Durga Puja at the Santa Barbara Temple every year. Founded in 1956 and consecrated to Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the Santa Barbara Vedanta Temple deserves a mention for its absolute devotion to Goddess Durga in compliance with the rituals and traditions followed by Belur Math in Bengal. Unlike other Durga Puja events in California, the Santa Barbara Vedanta Temple’s Durga Puja celebration is known for its simplicity. The serene location of the temple in a scenic mountain range overlooking the Pacific Ocean is another pull.

• Dates: October 10 to 13
• Venue: 927 Ladera Ln, Montecito, CA 93108
• Contact: santabarbara@vedanta.org, 805 969 2903
• Website: Vedanta.org/santa-barbara-temple/

NorCal Bengali Association Prothoma Durga Puja, SF Bay Area

The Northern California Bengali Association of Silicon Valley is one of the best places to enjoy Durga Puja events in the SF Bay Area. More than 100 members of the community prepare the culinary offering (bhog) for Goddess Durga and her children. Various cultural performances including dhunuchi naach and Prangon dance are lined up as part of the schedule at NorCal Prothoma Durga Pujo 2024. The women members of NorCal Bengali Association will perform a Prangon dance to welcome Maa Durga.

Papon, a popular playback singer and composer from Mumbai, will lend cheers to the Durga Pujo celebration by Prothoma, NorCal Bengali Association, on October 12. Fakira, a local music band, will churn out groovy numbers to a live audience on October 13.

• Dates: October 11, 12 and 13
• Venue: HUSD Performing Arts Center, Hayward, 2390 Panama Street, CA 94545
• Contact: +1 408-940-6846
• Website: Norcalba.org

The post Visit These Best Places in California to Celebrate Durga Puja 2024 and Other Indian Festivals appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

No matter how familiar the beats of dhaak, the fragrance of shiuli flowers (Nyctanthes arbor–tristis), the taste of festive food, the ambience of festive evenings, the feeling of sacred flower offering, the significance of Sandhi Puja and the joy of sindur khela are to those living abroad, they strongly feel drawn to home this time of the year. They brave the odds to come home and go on a celebration spree in the neighborhoods where they have grown up. Undeniably, Durga Puja is not just an annual festival but a homecoming occasion for NRI Bengalis. So strong is their umbilical cord with the roots that many Bengalis in the Indian American community book last-minute flights to India out of an overwhelming urge to get together with the family, friends, and relatives back home during the festival.

On the other hand, there are those who have never been away from home during Durga Puja. They wonder how Durga Puja is celebrated abroad, how culturally different the celebration is, how authentic the rituals are, how joyous the festivity is, if young Bengali NRIs flaunt traditional fashion, etc. A women-only group from the Indian community in the San Francisco Bay Area has the answer to all these. Ena Sarkar, the founder and CEO of WomenNow TV, a trend-setting South Asian talk show in the Bay Area, shares nitty-gritty of their all-women Durga Puja celebration in Santa Clara with Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats, a leading Indian American community portal. 

Initiated in 2015 by the WomenNow TV team, the Santa Clara Durga Utsav is one of the best Durga Puja events in California. The women-only group is prepared with a better and greater plan for the celebration which has become one of the most awaited Indian events in the Bay Area. Ena Sarkar and her team of women from different walks of life pull all stops to make various arrangements for four days of the festival from buying the idol to shopping for puja-special things to organizing cultural functions to making culinary offerings for the Goddess to distributing Prasad to managing the gathering of visitors in the marquee.

WomenNow TV founder & CEO Ena Sarkar at Santa Clara Durga Utsav

What made the WomenNow TV team come forward to organize Durga Puja in the San Francisco Bay Area was the idea of celebrating the collective power of ‘women now’ (today’s women) that they represent. It coincided with the tradition of invoking Goddess Durga or Shakti to bless her children with the power of good over evil. In addition, a cultural platform was needed for the Bay Area Indians to gather under one roof and interact with each other.

“The Santa Clara Durga Utsav is an interface between the divine purpose of this festival and the philosophy of WomenNow. We also wanted to provide a cultural platform for the Bay Area Indians to gather under one roof and interact with each other. Ours is not just a women-only celebration but a community get-together,” Ena Sarkar said.

WomenNow TV’s celebration of Durga Puja is an absolutely different picture of what appears a male-dominated activity in the patriarchal society of India. In aristocratic households from urban India to rural India, women prepare for the celebration and make arrangements for ceremonies on each day of the festivity behind the curtain, while menfolk gear up with their tasks and activities in the outer world. However, the scenario is changing for women among the urban aristocrats of Bengal.

In contrast to it, WomenNow’s Santa Clara Durga Utsav is a women-only celebration in terms of preparation and arrangement. Needless to say, Durga Puja is a mammoth celebration which entails a lot of doing from fund collection to venue management to cultural performance to immersion of idols. However, the WomenNow team has proven that nothing is impossible for the collective power of women by overcoming all initial difficulties and challenges including selection of the venue. Since the celebration is not limited to worshiping but comprises feasting and cultural functions, they required a venue with ample space to accommodate a considerable crowd of visitors during certain rituals like dhunuchi dance.

The Santa Clara Durga Utsav in the Bay Area is no exception to such usual contrasts as India vs USA, East vs West, the Oriental vs the Occidental, and Indians vs Indian Americans which often come up in regular discussions, debates and conversations. Ena Sarkar unhesitatingly bared her mind regarding if there is any cultural difference between Durga Puja celebration in USA and that in India.

“Definitely, there is. You can never compare the way Bengal celebrates Durga Puja to anywhere else in the world. What a grand, fabulous, joyous, incredible celebration in Bengal! But we try to get as close to home as we can by dressing traditionally, having the traditional food and observing the age-old rituals during the festival no matter how many thousands of miles we are away from Kolkata. There is no dearth of enthusiasm about the celebration in the Bay Area Indian community.”

When Ena talked about the boundless enthusiasm of Bengalis in the Bay Area, we at Travel Beats felt curious to know if young Indian Americans who were born in USA feel the same about Durga Puja and connect with it the same way as India-born Bengalis or Bengalis from India do in America.

Ena Sarkar said in no uncertain terms, “It is somewhat difficult for young Indians in USA to feel connect with the festival as they have been growing up in a country where there are multiple cultures and religions existing side by side. They have not yet understood the value of surrender to a single divine power – the essence of Hinduism. However, children certainly visit the puja venue with their parents and enjoy the festivities. They may not groove to the beats of dhaak but they enjoy the festive music.”

On a closing note, Ena Sarkar acknowledged that the Santa Clara Durga Utsav would not have been a grand celebration in the Bay Area without her WomenNow team and that it has become popular with their American friends as well.

This article is part of the series, Indian Life in America, by Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indian Diaspora. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of IndianEagle.com that thousands of Indians in USA have chosen as their reliable travel-booking partner for international trips. Subscribe to our newsletter for community stories, US-India travel news, visa and immigration updates.

The post This All-Women Durga Puja Celebration in Bay Area Proves that Indian Culture Knows no Borders appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Worship of the Almighty as Divine Mother is an age-old tradition in India and a refined part of Indian culture. It has been in existence since prehistoric times, but geographically it is limited to Asian countries in general and India in particular, in the current century. The history of ancient civilizations of Indus, Greece, Rome, Babylon and Egypt bears evidences to the worship of Divine Mother in different forms – nature, art, learning, culture and enlightenment. But Mother Worship has evolved from a tradition into a living religion for Indians. In Bengal, it has reached the highest level of devotion and faith in feminine manifestation of the Divine.   

Kumari Puja at Belur Math in West Bengal, India

In Bengal, Durga Puja or worship of Goddess Durga, an incarnation of Shakti, is the most pious and popular form of Mother Worship. In the Bengali community, the elderly people address young girls as Ma out of affection. “To look upon God as Mother is the purest and the highest form of Sadhana,” said Sri Ramakrishna, who is believed to have worshiped his wife as Divine Mother. Mother is all-in-all for a child.

Kumari Puja, a special attraction of Durga Puja festival in Bengal, is held to celebrate this faith through ceremonious worship of young girls in sense of Divine Mother. Kumari Puja is called Kanya Pujan in North India. Bengal celebrates it on Maha Ashtami, the eighth day of Durga Puja, while it is held on the ninth day or the last day of Navaratri in other states of India. The place to be for Kumari Puja in Bengal is Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission ashrams across the globe.

Kumari Puja is held wherever Ramakrishna Math & Mission is in the world. But, it is a cultural refinement, grand ceremony and spectacular ritual at Belur Math on the Hooghly River flowing between Howrah and Kolkata. Swami Vivekananda, the founder of Belur Math, had initiated Kumari Puja in appreciation of Sri Ramakrishna’s devotion to Divine Mother and faith in Mother Worship.

The saffron-clad monks of the Ramakrishna Order at Belur Math look upon a young girl as mother and worship her as a goddess, on Maha Ashtami. According to Sri Ramakrishna, little girls at the tender age when they are away from negative forces of the materialistic world are manifestations of the Divine Mother. A little girl at the pre-puberty phase of her growth is bathed in the holy Ganga water, dressed in a crimson red or fiery yellow sari with golden border, and adorned with jewelry.

Also Check: What Makes Durga Puja Grand Celebration for Global Bengalis

The same rituals are performed to worship the Kumari (young unmarried girl) and the same offerings are made to her as those during the worship of Goddess Durga. She is purified and sanctified through chanting of holy mantras. A spectacular arati is performed. Monks and devotees offer flowers at her obedience. The devoted hearts invoke her blessings through prayers. Kumari Puja at Belur Math fetches in a huge gathering of devotees, every year. Even, the whole ceremony is live telecast all over West Bengal.

To say in other words, Kumari Puja at Belur Math is a sacred celebration of the celestial bonding between the Divine and the human. Needless to say, the Kumari Puja ceremony is worth booking last-minute flights to Kolkata during the Durga Puja festival.

About Travel Beats

Travel Beats is an Indian Diaspora news portal by Indian Eagle, a leading travel organization for overseas Indians having a proven record of booking last minute flights to India. We at Travel Beats connect Indians abroad, including Indian Americans with their cultural heritage roots through our stories and features. 

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What are the best things to do in Kolkata this Durga Puja? Hopping across puja pandals, zipping through jostling crowds at puja spots, watching a Bengali art film, riding the underground Metro, visiting the Victoria Memorial, shopping at New Market, and having the quintessential Kolkata street food experience. If you go by a Kolkata street food guide for tips on what to eat on the roadside, you will feel like being spoilt for choice over a huge number of street food items in Kolkata.

So, we recommend five best street food items which you must have in the City of Joy. Notably, ‘Kolkata is the best destination for street food,’ according to a survey that the Taste of Travel conducted among 56727 respondents across 30 street food markets in India this year. 

It is jhal muri that is unique to the Kolkata street food experience for anyone and at any time of the year. One of the most popular evening snacks, it is a great mouth entertainer, both in and out of home. The locals are seen entertaining themselves over this crispy and spicy item, here and there in the city. Vendors are found selling jhal muri at public places including parks, gardens, cinema halls, markets, bus stops and railway platforms. It is made of puffed rice, fried lentils, and other crunchy ingredients mixed with drops of mustard oil, spices, chopped tomatoes and onion slices. You will see young boys and girls standing in long queues outside the puja pandals and spending time over jhal muri during Durga Puja.

Another evening special tongue-teasing item is pani puri that deserves to be among the top ten on a Kolkata street food guide for its popularity with the locals. This iconic Indian street food snack is known as puchka all over  the city. It is a tamarind mixed watery item with spiced potato mash in round chip. The mouthful relish of puchkas outside the Victoria Memorial, a brand icon of Kolkata City, is a craze with tourists. In the Bollywood movie Parineeta, a sequence featuring Vidya Balan, Sanjay Dutt and Raima Sen eating puchkas from a roadside vendor was shot at the Victoria Memorial. It is a must have on the festive evenings of Durga Puja.

India boasts a rich and diverse chaat culture – a common culinary thread in the multi-layered social fabric of the country. Mumbai, Delhi and other metro cities have papri chat, kachori chat, and alu chat in common, while Kolkata enjoys uniqueness for its distinct roadside chaat item – ghugni chaat. It is made from boiled yellow peas mixed with onion and tomato slices, seasoned with lime juice and spices, and served in small leaf bowls. Taste a few spoons of ghugni chaat to feel one with the street food culture of Kolkata. Bengalis are in the habit of taking ghugni chaat with slices of bread.

Kolkata street food retains the distinction of being unique to the culinary essence of the city, and harmonizes with the influences of other countries at the same time. It is chowmein that best reflects this dual identity of Kolkata street food culture. Made by frying boiled chow noodles with mix veggies in oil, chowmein is a borrowing from the Chinese cuisine. The main ingredient may be Chinese, but the smokey, spicy flavor is Kolkatan to the core. Bengalis are fond of egg and chicken chowmein, while veg chowmein is popular with the people in other parts of the country.

Do ask Kolkattans what they like to eat when they go out for shopping or watching a movie? Most of them will say for sure that it is spring roll stuffed with an omelet or chopped chicken or small mutton pieces. The mouthwatering bites of egg rolls, chicken rolls and mutton rolls define the pleasure of evening outings for the locals. Even the Bengalis born and bred in a cosmopolitan society prefer this street food to burgers. Kolkata will not disappoint you if you are veg. Paneer spring roll is also available there. However, rolls are served smoking hot with sauce and wrapped in a thin piece of paper.

Kachuri, moglai, momo, fish fry, chicken cutlet, and alu chop are the other must-try tongue teasers on the list. These items not only define the uniqueness of Kolkata street food culture but also reason why the city is called a city of foodies.

Travel Beats is a community portal by Indian Eagle, a leading travel organization for Indian Diaspora and booking cheap flights to Kolkata from USA. Travel Beats publishes interesting stories from India and USA. Subscribe to our free newsletter and don’t miss the latest updates.

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Durga Puja, the grandest and most spectacular festival of India, is in full swing now.  This festivity is so divine, joyous and fabulous that it never ceases to keep us waiting eagerly for the arrival of the Goddess. Every year, we cover the Durga Puja celebration on Travel Beats in different ways. We have come up with an article on the age-old rituals of Durga Puja to keep some requests from the Indian community in USA so that they can share it with their American friends.     

Dhaak

With the image of dhaak, the face of Goddess Durga surfaces to the mind. A most identifiable icon of the Durga Puja festivity, dhaaks are beaten during the worship of the Goddess, dhunuchi naach, aarti in the mornings and evenings from the beginning to the end of the festival. The beating of dhaak defines the ambience, dominates the mood and fills the air on the festive days.

Dhunuchi Naach

Dhunuchi Naach is an attraction of the Durga Puja celebration on festive evenings. In the Bengali community, boys, girls, men and women perform this traditional dance holding earthen lamps full of burning coconut shell with both hands and facing the Goddess. The rhythmic moves of their dancing feet are accompanied by the beats of dhaaks. The excitement soars and crowd cheers with the fast beating of dhaaks during the performance. It is a most entertaining and crowd-pulling part of the Durga Puja event in Kolkata, the rest of Bengal and other states of India. Women wear dhakai, taant and jamdani saris with golden work in the typical Bengali dressing style, and men wear embroidered kurtas of different colors in combination with white dhotis for this occasion.

READ ALSO Folk Culture of Bengal

Pushpanjali

Source: Flickr.com

A ritualistic part of the Durga Puja celebration, Pushpanjali refers to the offering of flowers with devotion to the holy feet of the Goddess. Each day of the festival starts with this ritual in the morning when Bengalis wearing new traditional clothes utter holy mantras and offer the Pushpanjali. However, the Pushpanjali on Maha Ashtami has lots of significance. Almost everyone fasts till this ritual is performed. Once it is over, the devotees are given prasad.

Kumari Puja

Kumari Puja on Maha Ashtami, the 8th day of the festival, is one of the traditional ceremonies interwoven with the way Durga Puja is celebrated in Bengal. A five or six year old girl child is worshipped as a human incarnation of the Goddess. Worshipping of the girl child or kumari with lamps, incense sticks, flowers and other holy essentials is worth watching every year. She is offered sweets too. The people present on the puja spot offer their devotion to the tender feet of the child and receive her blessings. However, the Kumari Puja initiated by Swami Vivekananda at Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, is a grand spectacle.

READ ALSO Significance of Kumari Puja at Belur Math

Sandhi Puja

The most spectacular part of Durga Puja celebration, Sandhi Puja is performed at the moment when Maha Ashtami ends and Maha Navami begins. This ritualistic ceremony holds special significance because it is believed that the Goddess kills the buffalo demon at this time. Sandhi Puja marks triumph of the good and defeat of the evil. Worshipping of the Goddess in this part of the festivity requires a grand arrangement that entails 108 lotus flowers, 108 lamps, platefuls of sweets, a large pot full of rice grains, clothes, hibiscus garlands, wood apple leaves, vermillion, etc. The Sandhi Puja aarti is the most wonderful spectacle to behold with devotion.

Sindur Khela

The color of vermillion eclipses the glow of other colors on Dashami, the 10th day of Durga Puja, when married women of the Bengali community indulge in sindur khela. It is an age-old customary ritual for them to exchange good wishes and festive greetings by smearing each other’s face with vermillion. The married Bengali women of all age-groups including the newly wed and the old, deck themselves in white saris with deep red border, and gold ornaments for this occasion as you might have seen in the climax of Bollywood movie Kahani starring Vidya Balan. They offer flowers with vermilion to the obedience of Maa Durga before bidding adieu to the Goddess.

Immersion

Immersion of the idols of the Goddess and her family members – Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartik – is the culminating ceremony of the Durga Puja festival that leaves Bengalis with tears in the eyes. Bengalis across the country tearfully bid adieu to the Divine Mother on Maha Dashami, the 10th or last day of the festival. The immersion is preceded by spectacular processions in which traditionally dressed men and women dance in rhythm with the beats of dhaak, all the way to the river bank. Hundreds of devotees join the procession and catch the last glimpse of the Goddess during immersion.

Travel Beats is an Indian Diaspora portal by Indian Eagle, a leading travel organization for overseas Indians having a proven record of booking cheapest air tickets to India. We at Travel Beats connect Indians abroad, including Indian Americans with their cultural heritage roots through our stories and features.   

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Durga Puja, the grandest festival of Bengal in India, is a traditional ceremony dedicated to the worship of Devi Durga, the goddess of power (Shakti), in form of Divine Mother. Though Bengal has been the epicenter of this festivity since the 15th century, it has become a global celebration with the migration of Bengalis to other countries. How glittering and glorious Durga Puja is, will be convincing to you, if you ever travel to Kolkata in the month of October. To be precise, it is the ultimate cultural extravaganza and festive gala in Bengal, the history of which is associated with the Muslim rule and the British Raj in India.

Durga Puja celebration was an emblem of prosperity and power in the aristocratic class of Bengalis, to say landlords as shown in the National Award winning movies of Rituparno Ghosh, such as Utsav, Hirer Angti and Antarmahal. It is heard that some influential landlords invited the British officials to attend the celebration so that they could be in good books of the British East Indian Company. With the passing of time, Durga Puja became a mass celebration outside the embellished interiors of palatial houses in Bengal.

However, there are different legends about the origin of Durga Puja. According to the folklores of Bengal, the landlords of Malda and Dinajpur were the first to have initiated the celebration in the 15^th century. The Ramayana, one of the two great Indian epics, says that Lord Rama had first worshipped Devi Durga to be blessed with victory over Ravana. Let’s keep aside the controversies, myths, legends and folklores to focus on the men at work behind the canvas – the clay idol makers or potters at Kumortuli in Kolkata, on the bank of Hugli River.

You might have caught gripping glimpses of Durga Puja celebration in some Bollywood movies, to say Pradip Sarkar’s Parineeta and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas. But, Kumortuli where thousands of Durga idols are made for domestic celebrations and Bengali communities on foreign shores has remained out of the focus of directors’ camera lens. The 5-day long celebration follows preparations for 3 to 4 months. The making of Durga idols at Kumortuli is the major part of the preparation. Kumortuli, the hub of clay idol makers and potters by the riverside is one of the best tourist attractions in Kolkata City.

Also Check: How to Save Big on Flights to Kolkata

Kumortuli is older than the city itself. The foundation of the city dates back to the year 1690, whereas Kumortuli has been in existence long before that. The ancestors of today’s potters were said to have migrated from their native land Krishnanagar to Gobindapore, one of the three villages the then Calcutta was formed of, in quest of sustenance. They settled by the river of Ganga or Hooghly River and began to make clay pots, utensils and idols. Since then, they have been supplying idols to puja committees at home and abroad.

The idol making process is, at times, disturbed by adverse atmospheric conditions. The artisans at work brave all odds to get the idols ready by Mahalaya, the day of invoking Goddess Durga. However, it is a pleasure to watch the artisans make life-like idols out of clay. These days, the making of theme-based artistic idols with an aesthetic aura is a popular trend due to stiff competition among the puja committees. The concrete image of Devi Durga sitting on a lion and slaying the buffalo demon at her feet evokes awe, wonder and devotion.

The artisans of Kumortuli remain in the dark on the flipside of grand, spectacular Durga Puja festival though their innovative creations are cruised to overseas Bengali communities in the USA, Europe, Africa, Australia and other countries. Being an overseas Indian, you celebrate Durga Puja away from home every year, but the feel, the flavor and the fervor of the festivity are to be experienced only in Kolkata, in Bengal, in India.

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West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee is a versatile personality. She is known for her austere lifestyle, simplicity and her love of traditional Bengali culture. She is also famous for her paintings. She is a celebrity poet too. Recently, Bengal CM turned a lyricist. Neither for films nor for tele soaps. She penned a Durga puja theme song this year. (Find the video of the song below) 

TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee wrote the Durga puja theme song for a popular puja committee, Suruchi Sangha in New Alipore, Kolkata. Suruchi Sangha, one of the award-winning puja organizers in Kolkata, is known for their innovative, thought-provoking Durga puja themes. ‘Unity in Diversity’ is the theme of the song.

Mamata Banerjee’s Suruchi Sangha theme song 2017 – “Boichitrer muktoy gantha ekotar monihar” (the jewel of unity is stitched with a string of pearls of diversity) – is sung by none other than Shreya Ghosal. Jeet Gannguli, popular in Bollywood and the Bengali film industry, composed music for the song.

Theme music for the Durga puja festival is a new trend in the City of Joy. Bengal CM’s theme song for Suruchi Sangha Durga puja 2017 is not her first tryst with lyricism. She penned lyrics for this city puja committee in the past.

Music composer and singer Jeet Gannguli has composed music for Alipore Suruchi Sangha’s Durga puja theme songs for a couple of years. He has a heartfelt ‘musical association’ with Suruchi Sangha’s Durga puja celebration.

Also Check: London Themes of Kolkata Durga Puja 2017

Recital is another emerging trend of Durga puja celebration in Kolkata. Known for one of the best Durga puja pandals and themes in Kolkata, Kumartuli Sarbojonin chose recital as theme music over song this year. Eminent actor Soumitra Chatterjee’s recital of ‘Ami Sei Diganto Asa Periye Asa Uttaradhikar’ (I have walked through the past, I am the torch-bearer) is being played at the Kumartuli Sarbojonin puja pandal 2017.

Soumitra Chatterjee’s recital depicts a heart-touching story of Kumartuli potters on the banks of Hooghly River. Kumartuli Sarbojonin has initiated the trend of playing recitals instead of songs to entice pandal hoppers and puja revelers, according to a spokesperson of the puja committee.

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Tridhara Sammilani, another award-winning puja committee in Kolkata, roped in renowned music composer and singer Joy Sarkar for its Durga puja theme song 2017.

Durga Puja is neither just a festival nor merely a celebration. It brings in joy, innovation and new attractions. The enormity and significance of Durga Puja cannot be summed up in a few words. No wonder why many Bengali NRIs search for last minute airfare deals to India and book last minute flight tickets to Kolkata.

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Durga Puja is one of the few best things that Kolkata is famed for and identified with. It is the only occasion when the City of Joy looks and feels like a new bride in flamboyant fineries. What makes Kolkata a must visit during Durga Puja is not only the beating of dhaaks, the fragrance of shiuli flowers, the flavor of traditional Bengali food, the emotive power of the festive ambience and the memories of family get-togethers or friendly adda but also hopping of puja pandals featuring new themes, pleasing and thought-provoking.

No wonder why many NRI Bengalis book even last minute flights to Kolkata. After all, Durga Puja is a homecoming celebration like Onam in Kerala and Diwali in North India.

Kolkata Durga Puja Themes 2017

The beauty of London is among the major themes of Kolkata Durga Puja 2017. Some of the city-based puja committees have roped in renowned fashion designers like Sharbari Datta to add a trendy look to the attires of idols, while some others have chosen London as a predominant theme. Needless to say, Kolkata is the London of the East.

Two of the leading puja committees are all set to model pandals on London for Durga Puja 2017 in Kolkata. Bhowanipore’s 75 Palli in South Kolkata and Santosh Mitra Square in Central Kolkata are known for their crowd-pulling, award-winning, unique Durga puja themes. These two historic Durga puja committees seem the craftsmen of Bengal CM Mamata Bannerjee’s dream of turning Kolkata into London this year.

Kolkata Durga Puja 2017: Santosh Mitra Square

Incepted in 1936, Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja (Lebutala Park) is one of the oldest Kolkata Durga Puja celebrations. Initially known as Sealdah Sarbojanin Durgoutsav, the Santosh Mitra Square puja committee will make a public square of London come alive in the forecourt of their pandal for Durga Puja 2017 in Kolkata. The interior of the pandal will feature traditional decorations while a colossal chandelier will dominate the ceiling.

Also Read: Women-only Durga Puja in California

The Santosh Mitra Square puja committee has teamed up with eminent fashion designer Agnimitra Paul to design clothes for the idols, which will make Kolkata Durga Puja 2017 a memorable one for revelers. Reportedly, clothes of Goddess Durga, the demon and other idols will be designed on the lines of the fashion in the colonial era when Calcutta was the capital of British India. Gold and zari will largely be used in weaving the designer clothes.

Kolkata Durga Puja 2017: Bhowanipore 75 Palli

A sprawling area of 40,000 square feet in front of the 75 Palli puja pandal in South Kolkata will become alive as a typical London street this year. The things common between Kolkata and London will be the attractions of Bhowanipore 75 Palli’s pandal for Kolkata Durga puja 2017. Reportedly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been invited to inaugurate this pandal

The Bhowanipore 75 Palli puja committee has planned to model the pandal gate on the Big Ben in London and the altar of the idols on the London Bridge. The Palace of Westminster, which houses the British Parliament, will also be recreated to complement the ‘London’ theme of the pandal. The lights of the pandal will resemble those on the streets of London.

Also Read: How Japan Got Rash Behari Bose’s Favorite Indian Curry

Artistic idols made of mahogany wood and brass in North Bengal will add to the grandeur of 75 Palli’s Durga puja 2017 in Kolkata. Decorated with Dokra artworks, the idols are given a retro look from the bygone days. Being crafted by a group of artisans in North Bengal which rolls under mayhem over the demand for a separate state is brewing in, the idols would send out a message of peace and harmony over discrimination.

Since 2017 is the year of the Indo-UK culture, the Bhowanipore 75 Palli puja committee has associated with the London Sharad Utsav and the British Council to work on their London-inspired Durga puja theme. This South Kolkata Durga Puja 2017 pandal will also highlight Bengal CM’s award-winning ‘Kanyashree’ project.

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The harmony of different cultures and customs in the social fabric of India is best experienced during Navratri and Dussehra celebrations that take place in every state. The entire country, from Delhi to Mysore and from Gujarat to Bengal, wears a celebratory look and exudes elegant ethnicity. Some states celebrate Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasur, while Lord Rama’s triumph over Ravana the King of demons is celebrated in some states. However, victory of the good over the evil is the common purpose of celebrations all over the country. Whichever part of India you visit during the festival, you will find smiling faces, happy minds and devoted souls in common though the way of the festivity is different in different states. Indian Eagle holds a mirror to the different ways of Navratri and Dussehra celebration in 7 best places of India:

Delhi

Delhi observes the Dussehra festival in celebration of Ram’s victory and Ravana’s defeat. The temples of Lord Ram are decorated with flowers and lit with lamps, in every nook and corner of the capital. Religious music and recital of the Ramayana fill the atmosphere. Ram Leela is the main cultural event, held on the festive evenings in the city. The burning of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad on the last day of the festival is the mainstay of Dussehra celebration in Delhi. This ceremony is followed by an amazing firework.

Gujarat

Experience the festive best of India in Gujarat for nine days of the Navratri festival. Ahmedabad, Surat, Baroda, Gandhinagar and other cities in Gujarat come alive with gusto for celebration through music, dance and food. Gujaratis stick to their age-old culture on nine days of the festivity, no matter how modern they are in the 21st century. Women in lehenga cholis and men in traditional kedias look their best on festive evenings when they gather to perform Garba and Dandiya Rasa, the most popular folk dances of Gujarat. The cultural celebration centers on the worship of Ma Amba, another name of Goddess Shakti. Visit Gujarat to overwhelm your senses with the riot of colors in every nook and corner, during Navratri.

Chhattisgarh

Let’s penetrate into Chhattisgarh and see how the tribal folks of Bastar celebrate the festival. Surprisingly, the celebration spans over as many as 75 days here. Unlike the celebration of Ram’s triumph over Ravana in north India, the natives of Bastar worship Devi Maoli, a local goddess, and her sisters during Navratri . Hundreds of priests join the grand procession which is organized to bring the local deities to the Danteshwari Temple in Jagdalpur. The main attraction of the holy procession is a double-decker chariot or rath. The tribal folks make the 2-ton heavy chariot using traditional tools. The path of the procession between Bastar and Jagdalpur is lit with one thousand lamps by the tourism department of Chhattisgarh.

Varanasi

Navratri brings Varanasi alive with an aura of festivity and spirituality in the blend. For ten days from the beginning of the festival till Dussehra, the city remains a favorite haunt of holy seers and devotees. Ram Leela is an attraction of Navratri celebration in Varanasi. Ram Leela is a dance drama which is performed to enact the lives of Ram, Sita and Lakshman in exile, on a makeshift stage. Though the entire city becomes a Ram Leela ground during Navratri, Ramnagar at a distance of 15 km from the city is famous for this event. The recital of Ramcharitamanas on nine days of the festival is considered a virtue. Devotees hear the recital with single-minded devotion. The way Dussehra is celebrated in Varanasi carries off the bell. The episode of Ram’s reunion with Bharat on return to Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana is commemorated in the Bharat Milaap event on the next day of Dussehra.

Himachal Pradesh

Navratri is not as fabulous a festival as Dussehra is in Himachal Pradesh. Kullu Valley is the epicenter of the celebration for 7 days following Dussehra. In Kullu, the festivity centers on the worship of Lord Raghunath on the fairground of Dhalpur Maidan. The idols of local gods and goddesses are brought to the fairground through a holy procession. The entire valley overflows with the joys of festivity for a week. The celebration comes to an end when a heap of wood and grass is set to fire on the bank of the Beas River, the last day. It symbolizes the burning of Lanka, an event in the Ramayana. However, the worship of Lord Raghunath on Dussehra dates back to the 17th century.

Karnataka

If you are flying to Karnataka this Navratri , you stand a good chance to experience the 400-year-old Dussehra festivity in Mysore. The festival is locally known as Dasara in the city. Mysore springs into activity over the celebration for ten days. The illumination of Mysore Palace with as many as 100,000 lights on the occasion of Dussehra is a rare visual treat that no other city offers. Moreover, catching the procession of richly embellished elephants on the decorated streets of Mysore is an experience of the city’s royalty and ethnic culture. The celebration in this princely city of Karnataka is a roller-coaster ride of gastronomic joy too.

West Bengal

As Goddess Shakti is worshipped as Durga in West Bengal, Navratri festival is known as Durga Puja in this state of India. A brand identity of Bengal, Durga Puja is a 5-day long cultural extravaganza. The capital city Kolkata is the hotbed of festivity. The cityscape is dotted with hundreds of different theme based pandals where the life-size idols of Durga and other family members are worshiped for 5 days. The city skyline is lit with beautiful lightings from twilight till wee hours. Kolkata does not sleep for 5 days as the people begin to hop around pandals in the evening and continue throughout the night. Though the festival ends with the immersion of idols on Maha Dashami, the celebration continues over the ceremony of exchanging warm greetings with near and dear ones, and the sweetening of mouths with bites of Rasogolla.

IndianEagle.com offers the cheapest flight for your trip to the cities of India where Navratri and Dussehra festivals are a must experience.

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