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Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into City of Blinding Lights

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST
FD block Durga Pujo in Salt Lake

The four most-awaited days in the Bengali calendar are here. 

Ma Durga makes her entry into pandals and homes across Bengal, and into all our hearts, today.

Let's take a look at some of her most mesmerising avataars and the stunning pandals she is reigning over...

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Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into City of Blinding Lights

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST
Mudiali Durga Pujo

The idol of Ma Durga was formally unveiled by priests today, on the morning of Shashti, the sixth day of the Pujo.

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Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into City of Blinding Lights

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST
Mudiali Shiv Mandir Durga Pujo

The pushpanjali, the practice of offering flowers to Ma Durga while chanting mantras, starts on Saptami, the seventh day. 

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Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into City of Blinding Lights

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST
Surir Bagan pandal in north Kolkata

The pushpanjali, a morning ritual, is considered to be the most important part of Durga Pujo by many.

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Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into City of Blinding Lights

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST
Raipur Club Durga Pujo

Pujo organisers across Kolkata have gone to great lengths to create the most breathtaking pandals for the deity.

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Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into City of Blinding Lights

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST
Badamtala Ashar Sangha Durga Pujo

The creativity of the organisers is evident from this pandal, where Ma Durga is bathed in neon lights, crowned by a giant trishul and towering over a Asura who looks suspiciously like Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series.

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Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into City of Blinding Lights

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST
Golf Green Sarodotshob Comitee Pujo

Some Durga Pujos in Kolkata have become legendary for their breathtaking idols and outlandish pandals, like this one in Golf Green, which happens to be one of the city's most visited pandals.

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Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into City of Blinding Lights

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST
Bharatiya Tarun Sangha Durga Pujo

Thousands of people wait for hours in serpentine queues to catch a glimpse of their beloved deity and admire the ingenuity of the pandal designers and organisers.

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Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into City of Blinding Lights

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST
Bharatiya Tarun Sangha Durga Pujo

For these four days, Kolkata, much like its fellow metropolis Mumbai, becomes the city that doesn't sleep. 

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Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into City of Blinding Lights

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST
Mudiali Durga Pujo

Pandal-hopping becomes the city's night-time obsession as scores of people take to the streets to make the most of the festival.

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Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into City of Blinding Lights

Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST
Hati Bagan Sarbojanin Durga Pujo

The atmosphere is resplendent with the beat of the dhaak and the aroma of bhog, the special khichdi which is made for Ma Durga and later distributed to her devotees.

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Last updated on: October 10, 2013 13:39 IST

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