One such vibrant and very prominent festival of India is Durga Puja which is celebrated with a lot of pomp and show in specially West Bengal and Delhi. The festival commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demonic being Mahishasura and implies the victory of the good over the evil. It usually lasts five days with tons of rituals, prayers, cultural shows, and decoration of pandals mostly. Believers come together to perform aarti, bhog, and take part in some common dances such as dhunuchi naach. The streets are illuminated with colors, with the sounds of music and with the smells of festive food. Durga Puja is not only a religious festival, it is a cultural festival on which communities can reconnect.
Devotion, Decor, And Durga Pooja: 5 Pandals In Delhi For Your Pandal Hopping Plans
1/5
CR Park -The Spirit of Bengali Durga Puja in Delhi
Chittaranjan Park (CR Park) is the Durga Puja centre of Delhi. Having various pandals in different blocks such as B-Block, Mela Ground, K-Block, and the renowned Kali Mandir, CR Park is a neighborhood that allows one to enjoy the cultural immersion. The sounds of traditional beats of dhaak, dhunuchi naach and open food stalls selling Bengali sweets and savories attract thousands every year. The gods are, well, big, kumartuli-style (and by the way, tend to be imported, often by Kolkata). It is not only a celebration, but it is a carnival of religion, music, and tastes. CR Park is a must-see course of those who want to have the most traditional and complete Durga Puja in the capital.
2/5
Matri Mandir, Safdarjung A Combination of Convention and Peace
Hamleted in the innermost annals of South Delhi, Matri Mandir will give you a more calm and divine experience of Durga Puja. It is one of the most eco-friendly festivals with a non-sufficient audience and is a perfect choice when you need to abandon all the noise and find your spirituality. There are daily evening cultural shows, bhogs and aartis in the mandir. It is built very artistically and creatively with traditional rituals still held in it. Matri Mandir is beautiful, suitable to the family, to the old and to the people who love devotion rather than glitter, and at the same time with the real touch of Durga Puja.
3/5
Kali Bari (Mandir Marg) - Delhi Oldest Durga Puja
New Delhi Kali Bari on Mandir Marg is among the oldest Durga Puja celebrations in the city as dating back to 1925. The classic Ekchala idol and plain decorations are associated with it but here spirituality cues are in the forefront rather than the visual wow factor. Followers are congregated in touching pushpanjali, bhog and prayer felicitating. The wedding ceremony is highly orthodox and the purity and sanctity of the Bengali traditions are followed. In case you are interested in viewing Durga Puja in its most complete and holy form then Kali Bari is the place to be in the center of spiritual hub of the capital.
4/5
Minto Road Puja Samity A Hotel of History and Culture
The preeminent Durga Puja in Delhi is that of the Minto Road Puja Samity which is organized since 1940 and is quite cultural. Vintage backdrop of the pandal with soulful dhaak and wisdom of old practices draws either a Bengali as well as non-Bengali. In this case, a Bonedi Bari style of a puja is re-created through elaborate traditional designs, shola work and people centered celebrations. It is the place where people can find classical music, plays and Rabindra Sangeet in the evenings, which makes these evenings a cultural enclave. Minto road is a much valued place by people who value heritage and community networking.
5/5
The Grand Cultural Center of East Delhi Mayur Vihar Phase 1
Mayur Vihar Phase 1 Durga Puja is also one of the biggest attractions in East Delhi and has a vibrancy and an inclusive feel about it. Its defining characteristic is large masses of people, colorful representation of idols, and theme based decoration which in most cases mirrors the contemporary happenings or mythological stories. There are cultural activities such as group dances, music competition, and drama in sayings which make it amorous with the youth and family. A large attraction is the food booths that deal with original Bengali and Indian street food. The organization of the puja takes place with the tight coordination within the community rendering the area of Mayur Vihar a celebratory hot area during the Durga Puja period.
