25 Must See Kolkata Durga Puja Pandals 2015

It is that time of the year again, when I am a tourist in the city where I was born and raised during my formative years. In 2013, I wrote about how Kolkata turns into an art gallery during Durga Puja and in 2014 I attempted to identify 25 of the best Durga Puja Pandals (2014) after visiting about 70 of them across the city. This year ie 2015, I criss crossed around the city for 3 long days during Durga Puja 2015, visiting close to a 100 pandals.

Every year, I am left overwhelmed by the larger than life installation art, and humbled by the efforts of the hundreds, whom I may never know, never get the chance to congratulate for the humongous effort, for the sheer team work and most importantly for the amazing gift of god. Over the years, the religious sentiment of the Pujas has taken a back seat and it is more of an opportunity to spread awareness of contemporary issues, to display the art and cultural heritage, to revive lost art and to celebrate life !! Mother Goddess Durga is the embodiment of everything that makes life worth living, her annual visit is the time to shed all the negativity that accumulated over the months and indulge in annihilating the inner demons !! What best than to pandal hop in her celebration !! This year the tallest idol was unveiled in Deshapriya Park.

It was not an easy task to choose the best 25, and after sifting through hundreds of photographs taken during my foot walk during the 3 days, I managed to zero in on the following. I would like to add that I have enjoyed my visit to all and the picture gallery comprises of my best 100 pictures!!

North: Tala Barowari; Sikdar Bagan, Kashi Bose Lane; Kumortuli Park, Bagbazar

East : Dum Dum Park Tarun Dal; Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangstha; Telengabagan, Ultadanda Pallyshree

South: Salimpur, Badamtala, 66 Pally, Chetla Agrani, Tridhara, Hindustan Park, Bosepukur Talbagan, Abasara, Naktala Udayan, Santoshpur Lake Pally

West: Suruchi Sangha; Behala Notun Dal; Behala Friends; Ajeya Sanghati; Haridebpur 41 Pally, Behala Buroshibtala

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Durga Puja 2017 is between 26th September 2017 to 30th September 2017