Glimpses of India's vibrant Navratri and Durga Puja celebrations, as devotees perform traditional Garba, worship Goddess Durga and visit elaborately decorated pandals.
'Ma would fiddle with the radio's knob until the static gave way to music; then, the voice would come on. I would be half-asleep still, understanding little of the Sanskrit words I heard but the words in chants, interspersed with songs, cast a spell. I still remember the goosebumps I felt as the epic tale of Goddess Durga's birth and battles unfolded,' says Radha Roy Biswas.
The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at 15 locations connected to former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen and others, probing alleged financial irregularities in Durga Puja preview shows organised by massArt, an organisation headed by Sen's wife. The investigation under PMLA focuses on the alleged collection and diversion of Rs 50-60 crore and potential links to a private art gallery.
Durga Puja celebrations hit a notch higher as many more film folk paid the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Pooja pandal a visit to seek blessings, partake in the bhog and even serve it.
Odisha Police have arrested Raja Sahani, an undertrial prisoner who escaped from Choudwar Circle Jail in Cuttack during last year's Durga Puja celebrations. He was apprehended in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, after months on the run.
Cricket legends Sourav Ganguly and Brian Lara joined the Durga Puja festivities in Kolkata on Sunday.
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Kajol, Tanuja, Tanishaa Mukerji and Ayan Mukerji came together to unveil Maa Durga's idol at the 80th North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja, which celebrates the spirit of tradition and family.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated a Durga Puja pandal that replicates garment shops ahead of Durga Puja in Kolkata on Sunday, October 10, 2021.
A Durga Puja committee in Ranchi modified its Vatican City-themed marquee after objections from a Hindu group. The image of Jesus Christ was replaced with Lord Krishna.
Rani Mukerji and Kajol looked gorgeous as they celebrated Asthami at the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal.
Heavy rains in Kolkata have disrupted Durga Puja preparations, causing damage to pandals and delaying inaugurations. Organizers are working to restore decorations and ensure the festivities can proceed.
The nine-day festival begins this year on October 3. Each day is devoted to one of Ma Durga's nine avatars -- Goddess Shailputri, Goddess Brahmacharini, Goddess Chandraghanta, Goddess Kushmanda, Goddess Skandamata, Goddess Katyayani, Goddess Kalaratri, Goddess Mahagauri and Goddess Siddhidatri.
Like every year, the Mukherjees got together to celebrate Durga Puja, looking beautiful in their colourful traditional wear.
Bollywood folk celebrate Durga Puja at the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja -- or the Mukherjee Bari Pujo -- in Juhu, north west Mumbai, on Thursday, October 14, 2021.
The Mukherjee family reunion at the Durga Puja celebration.
West Bengal is home to 43,000 Durga Pujas, and the business around it is a major economic driver.
Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho will visit to Kolkata in October.
Glimpses of artisans, performers and shoppers preparing for Durga Puja and Navratri celebrations across India.
Durga pujo celebrations continue, and this time, Alia Bhatt joins the Mukherjees at the the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal.
Tarun Vijay visits 20 Durga Puja pandals in five towns in Bangladesh and comes back impressed.
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West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh asserted that eating non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja is not controversial, countering Bageshwar Dham head priest Dhirendra Shastri's call for vegetarianism. Ghosh highlighted Bengal's traditions, including goat sacrifice as prasad, and criticised attempts to dictate food choices or government involvement in community pujas. He also touched upon a controversy regarding an 11-handed Durga idol.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) of releasing water recklessly and without prior intimation, creating a flood-like situation in south Bengal districts during Durga Puja.
Unesco on Wednesday accorded heritage status to Kolkata's Durga puja festival, bringing glory to the country, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lauding the move.
'I want to take Durga Maa's blessings and achieve a lot more'
Bollywood stars turned revelers during the ongoing Durga Puja and Navratri.
Breaking centuries-old custom, for the first time in the history of Durga Puja in West Bengal, women priests Nandini Bhowmik, Ruma Roy, Seymanti Banerjee and Poulami Chakraborty performed rituals on the occasion of Maha Sasthi, October 11, 2021.
Hundreds and thousands of devout throng puja pandals as festive fever grips Kolkata on Friday, the second last day of Durga puja. But if weathermen are to be believed the rain gods may just play spoilsport.
Durga Puja celebrations are on in the city and Bollywood has joined in with great gusto!
The Mukherjees are in a festive mood!
Forum for Durgotsab, an umbrella organisation of 550 community Durga Pujas in Kolkata and neighbouring areas, also published guidelines to ensure that the festivities are held following COVID-safety protocols.
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen in a cheating case. Sen is accused of commercialising Durga Puja by selling high-priced preview show tickets through an organisation allegedly linked to him and his family, diverting government funds. The court noted "trappings of corruption" and the Enforcement Directorate is also investigating.
A community Durga Puja pandal based on the theme of 'Fight Against Coronavirus' at Raiganj in North Dinajpur district, West Bengal.
The annual festivities of Durga Puja are set to start and the City of Joy is gearing up for it. Sayan Dutta offers us a peek into the preparations.
Mahalaya, though essentially about the goddess, wasn't religious for us. And it isn't for most Bengalis. Mahalaya is an emotion. It's gooseflesh for a memory. A welling up of happy tears. A celebration of what is to come.
