Kolkata Wears a Festive Look as Maa Durga Arrives; Red and White Alpona Lights Up the City

Kolkata is wearing a new and colourful look ahead of Durga Puja. From red and white alpona designs to bright lights, decorated roads and beautiful riverfronts, the City of Joy is getting ready to welcome Maa Durga.

After Mahalaya, the festive mood has spread across the city. Roads, street crossings, bridges, parks and the banks of the Hooghly River are being decorated with colourful designs and lights. The decorations have added a special charm to Kolkata, attracting residents and visitors who are stepping out to enjoy the festive atmosphere and take photographs.

Park Street, Prinsep Ghat and Millennium Park are among the places drawing attention for their festive decorations and lighting. The riverfront areas offer beautiful views in the evening, while the city’s roads and public spaces reflect the joy of the upcoming festival. Red, pink, yellow and orange designs have also appeared at several important crossings and roads, including Park Circus Crossing, Gariahat Bridge, Garia More and Red Road.

The decorations are not limited to roads and public spaces. Kolkata’s famous Durga Puja pandals are also preparing to welcome thousands of visitors with traditional idols, artistic structures and creative themes.

Famous Durga Puja Places Across Kolkata

North Kolkata: Bagbazar Sarbojanin, Kumartuli Park, Ahiritola Sarbojanin, Hatibagan Sarbojanin, Sikdar Bagan, Kashi Bose Lane, Chaltabagan Lohapatty, Tala Prattoy and Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra are popular destinations. Bagbazar is known for its traditional style, while Kumartuli is closely connected with the art of making Durga idols.

Central Kolkata: College Square, Santosh Mitra Square, Mohammed Ali Park, Muchipara and Manicktala Chaltabagan attract visitors with their artistic pandals, lighting and festive crowds. College Square is especially known for the beautiful reflections of its lights in the water.

South Kolkata: Ekdalia Evergreen, Deshapriya Park, Ballygunge Cultural Association, Badamtala Ashar Sangha, Tridhara Sammilani, Hindustan Park, Mudiali Club, Jodhpur Park, Suruchi Sangha, Chetla Agrani and Naktala Udayan Sangha are among the well-known puja destinations.

Salt Lake and surrounding areas: Sreebhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, FD Block in Salt Lake, and the pandals of Dum Dum Park are also popular places for pandal hopping.

Riverfront and public spaces: Prinsep Ghat, Baghbazar Ghat and Millennium Park are worth mentioning for their connection with the Hooghly River and the festive atmosphere around the city. However, these riverfront locations should not be confused with individual Durga Puja pandals.

Each neighbourhood offers a different experience, from traditional worship and cultural heritage to modern artistic displays and spectacular lighting.

A City United by the Festival

Durga Puja is more than a religious celebration in Kolkata. It is a time when families go pandal hopping, friends meet after long days, street-food stalls become busy and people enjoy the city’s art, music and culture.

The red and white alpona, colourful lights and decorated streets add to the feeling that the city is preparing for the homecoming of Maa Durga. From the historic lanes of North Kolkata to the busy streets of South Kolkata and the beautiful riverfronts, the festive spirit can be felt across the city.

As the festival approaches, Kolkata is once again showing why Durga Puja is one of its most loved celebrations  a combination of devotion, tradition, creativity and community spirit.