Artisan Bijoy Debnath gives the final touch to a unique Goddess Durga idol crafted with 700 matchsticks for Durga Puja in Agartala.
Glimpses of India's vibrant Navratri and Durga Puja celebrations, as devotees perform traditional Garba, worship Goddess Durga and visit elaborately decorated pandals.
Across India, sacred temples honour Goddess Durga as Mahishasuramardini or the slayer of evil Mahishasura. Discover the temples that preserve the legend of Mahishasuramardini, from ancient cave art to Shakti Peeths.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand sculptures of Goddess Durga using seashells on the beach in Puri.
'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.
Glimpses of artisans, performers and shoppers preparing for Durga Puja and Navratri celebrations across India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared on X a garba song he wrote as a tribute to Goddess Durga.
'I've never been conscious of my looks. Even in my heydays, I never looked at myself and gasped, 'My God, what a beauty'.'
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat graced the Vijayadashami festival celebrations in Nagpur, performing 'shastra pujan' and taking a pledge alongside Bal and Shishu Swayamsevaks.
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.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly offered prayers on Maha Ashtami and expressed profound sadness over the tragic stampede at a Kolkata Durga Puja pandal, urging devotees to exercise extreme caution amidst large crowds.
The father of the nun, who was allegedly raped during the Kandhahmal riots, has left it to Goddess Durga to get her justice."I am busy with preparations for the Dussehra festival. Let the Goddess punish the culprits," said Ignace Barwa, whose second daughter was allegedly raped during a mob attack at K Nuagauon of Kandhamal on August 25."Ours is the only Christian family in the village," Rezina said, adding that they participate in all Hindu festivals.
'It is in the form of the nava shaktis that Durga or Adi Shakti lives inside everyone.'
Navratri is almost at its grand finale, and Day 9 deserves a colour that knows how to make an entrance. Enter peacock green, a rich blue-green shade that represents growth, harmony and renewal, while its blue undertones evoke calm, depth and devotion.
Navratri is all about dressing with devotion, and Day 5 brings a bright burst of yellow. Linked to happiness, warmth, optimism and new beginnings, it's the perfect mood-lifter for the festive season.
White is the colour to reach for on the second day of Navratri, symbolising peace, purity and serenity.
Indian sports personalities, including Sachin Tendulkar, PV Sindhu, and Gautam Gambhir, took to social media to extend their heartfelt Dussehra wishes to fans, emphasising the festival's message of the triumph of good over evil.
Red is the colour of passion, power and prosperity, making it a fitting choice for the third day of Navratri.
Navratri is a celebration of colour, devotion and dressing up, and Day 6 is all about green. Associated with nature, growth, renewal and prosperity, green brings a refreshing energy to the festive season.
Navratri is the perfect excuse to turn your festive wardrobe up a notch, and Day 7 brings a royal twist with purple. Associated with luxury, wisdom, ambition and spiritual energy, this rich shade is perfect for anyone who likes their festive fashion with a little extra drama.
Navratri is all about celebrating devotion, colour and the energy of new beginnings, and Day 3 belongs to royal blue. The shade is associated with strength, richness and elegance, making it a striking choice for the festive season.
Navratri is known for its vibrant colours, but Day 7 proves that sometimes, the coolest way to make a statement is to keep things grey. Associated with balance, composure and understated elegance in many Navratri colour traditions, grey offers a refreshing break from the usual festive brights.
Gujarati folk singer Aditya Gadhvi has publicly distanced himself from an incident where non-Hindus and Muslims were asked to leave a high-end garba event in Ahmedabad during Navratri. The announcement was made from the stage by anchor-RJ Akash Trivedi, reportedly at the behest of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) volunteers. Gadhvi stated that the action was not his doing or message, emphasising that his stage is for music and devotion, and garba welcomes everyone with love and respect for Maa Durga.
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.
A look at how an age-old tradition still adds colour to Durga Puja.
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.
Indian civilisation has long imagined wealth and power as feminine forces. And yet, when these qualities appear in real women, admiration sometimes gives way to discomfort, observes Vatsal Ramaiya.
Ten devotees, including three minors, died after a tractor-trolley carrying Durga idols for immersion plunged into a lake in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. Rescue operations are underway.
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.
The Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Kolkata plan to make the Vatican City the theme for its pandal for the Durga Puja festival.
Cricket legends Sourav Ganguly and Brian Lara joined the Durga Puja festivities in Kolkata on Sunday.
We journey to 10 famous Maa temples, each devoted to a different form of Devi or the female force...
Deepta Roy Chakraverti talks to Chandrima Pal about her book that chronicles her psychic investigations into what she says are unnatural occurrences in familiar places.
Chaitra Navratri occurs in the month of Chaitra or March-April and hence its name. It marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year in many regions across India.
A procession of devotees returning from a Durga temple in Ghaziabad was allegedly attacked, with reports of stone-pelting, leading to tensions in the Kaila Bhatta area. Police have taken 10 people into custody and are investigating the incident.
Vande Mataram, the national song that has stirred passions and political controversies for more than a century, received legal protection on Thursday with Parliament passing a bill making any insult to it a punishable offence, rekindling the long-running debate over its place in India's history and identity.
In Mylapore in Chennai, an entire street is lined up with Kolu dolls; it's a wonderful sight to see the variety of dolls on display, recounts Sudha Chandrasekar.
Durga Puja, the festival that honours goddess Durga and celebrates her victory over the mythological demon named Mahishasura, kickstarts on Sunday.
A bodybuilder in Gurugram has been arrested for allegedly stealing jewellery from a local temple. The accused, identified as Kapil alias Kalu, was apprehended after CCTV footage revealed him stealing the goddess's gold nose ring and Chatra from the Durga Devi Temple.
