EST.
1943
THE VISION BEHIND THIS GLOBAL INITIATIVE
Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty
Durga Puja Committee
Discover Durga Puja in Kolkata — a magnificent expression of devotion, art, craftsmanship and community, inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
FROM
KOLKATA
TO THE WORLD
01
THE LIVING HERITAGE OF BENGAL
MORE THAN A FESTIVAL
For ten luminous days,
Kolkata becomes a work of art.
Durga Puja marks the annual worship of the mother-goddess Durga and the joyous return of the goddess to her natal home. Across Kolkata, streets transform into open galleries filled with monumental pavilions, clay sculpture, light, music and ritual.
Its living traditions are carried forward by families, artisans, priests, drummers, designers and neighbourhood communities. Millions take part, yet the spirit remains deeply personal: a homecoming, a shared memory and an invitation to belong.
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WHY UNESCO RECOGNISED IT
“A public performance of religion and art and a thriving ground for collaborative artists and designers.”
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
A TRADITION MADE TOGETHER
What makes Durga Puja
a living heritage
Its importance lies not only in what we see, but in the knowledge, skills and human connections passed from one generation to the next.
01
Clay & Craft
Artisans shape Durga and her family from purified clay, sustaining generations of knowledge and handcraft.
04
Community & Belonging
Class, faith and background recede as people gather, walk, create and celebrate in a shared public space.
03
Ritual & Rhythm
From Mahalaya to immersion, worship unfolds through sacred rites, conch shells and the pulse of the dhak.
02
Art Without Walls
Pandals turn neighbourhoods into vast public galleries of architecture, sculpture, light and imagination.
THE FESTIVAL JOURNEY
From awakening
to homecoming
04
THE FAREWELL
Vijaya Dashami
The images return to the river—a poignant farewell until the next homecoming.
03
THE CELEBRATION
Saptami–Navami
Days of worship, community feasts, music, artistry and pandal-hopping.
02
THE ARRIVAL
Shashthi
Durga is welcomed as the city's magnificent celebrations begin.
01
THE AWAKENING
Mahalaya
The eyes of the goddess are painted, symbolically bringing the clay image to life.
THE FEATURED DIGITAL EXPERIENCE
Carry the spirit of Durga Puja with you.
Created by the Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Committee, the Chaltabagan Durga Puja app opens a digital window onto one of Kolkata's celebrated community Pujas. Follow live rituals, explore the programme, view festival galleries and discover the heritage from wherever you are.
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Darshan
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Festival Programme
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About The Theme
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Gallery