[PapaBravo]

Beautifully composed Arav. I know how difficult it is to remember the names & themes of the Pujas. We were in the lot who missed the Puja & went for a holiday this year. But here are some pictures from last year.

Mudiali



Golf Green : Princep Theme



Jungle theme of a Puja from North Kolkata





Cheers,

Pawan

[hok kolorob]

A few pictures from my end. My friend took all the pictures using a mobile. Please excuse the quality of the same. He went to some 50+ such pujas, unfortunately, he doesn't remember the theme of all pujas.

Garia nobo Durga





Theme Global Warming







This is based on a popular Bengali story Gupi Gayen and Bagha Bayen, which later made into a movie by Satyajit Ray











Not sure about the theme here.





Santoshpur trikon park. Theme Dolls of Andhra Pradesh.








Chakraberia sarbojanin, samudra manthan/samudra manthana/ churning of the ocean





]

Club Abosor. Don't know the theme.

[hok kolorob]

Round two Shiv Mandir. Not sure about the theme.











Rajdanga nabo udoy Sangha, not sure about the theme.









Work of terracotta.











Selimpur. Guess no need to explain the theme here!









95 pally. Not sure about the theme but something to do with the love of the mother.









Barisha club. Bridhashram/ Old age home.









Behala natun dal. Not sure about the theme.

[hok kolorob]

Round 3 and the last round!

Behala friends. Something to do with the wires, not sure.







My Friend Rana Chakraborty and his family, who sent me all the pictures, thanks to him for taking such pain. I owe you, one buddy.



Singing out for now. As every Bengali would say after the "bhasan" aka immersion of the goddess, "Aschay bochor abar hobay", a loose translation of this will be : we will do same next year also with more zeal. This four days our state turns into God's own state. There are a lot of issues like traffic, standing in the queue, which will irritate you for sure, but if you can overcome that then, happiness has no bounds.

I don't go out in pujas but thanks to Arav's picture, it made me emotional. I remembered my younger days when I used to go out in pujas, long before the theme pujas.

I may brave it next year

[Baddychat]

First of all a big thank you to Arav for painstakingly compiling this thread. Someone who has been to the big Pujo's of Kolkata would know the amount of time one has to queue to get into the pandals, even with VIP access passes, leave aside taking photographs and looking around the entire pandal and lighting. More so if a particular Pujo is hyped that year for its theme, decoration et al.
Good choice of car to zip around during the festivities.
Absolutely fabulous. Once again a big thank you and duly rating this thread a well deserved 5 stars.

[AJ-got-BHP]

Originally Posted by mi2n

After going through your thread, we are regretting our miss.

If ever we could go Pandal Hopping together with the kids, it will be great fun. A Team-BHP midnight outing ?

Originally Posted by Miyata

I would put Flurry's in the "alright" category!

Being from Kolkata where people swear by Flurry's, I agree with you w.r.t. their Service as it dilutes the Charm. The good Old Tea Room of Flurry's which is non existent now is still my favourite. I might be a bit too Old School for many !

Originally Posted by gauravkhastgir

Amazing post with lovely photographs!
An absolute treat to the eye for a bengali outside Kolkata!
Cheers!

Glad you loved it !

Originally Posted by ts1506

I am a regular at Durga Puja celebrations, but after moving to Bangalore this year, this was the first year in my life without a single inkling of the festival and merriment.

Your pictures and experiences surely made me relive the energy, the hustle and bustle and the sheer longing for Durga Puja.

In spite of staying in Bengal this was 'that year' for me when venturing out was not on the cards and thus could cover the Pujas to keep the kids happy

Originally Posted by RGK

Very Nice Arav. This thread has created an urge in me to plan for a trip to Kolkata during Durga Pooja festival. Hope I do next year.

Do plan sometime and if I am in the city, we shall definitely catch up for sure !

Originally Posted by Samfromindia

We have so many active Bhpians from Kolkata churning out scores of amazing travelogues, but almost everyone forgot to write about the most fascinating part of their tradition: The yearly Durga Puja. Glad that finally someone decided to write one !

Thanks Sam ! On a lighter note, this thread is a result of being unoccupied.

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

Amazing thread, great efforts in compilation. Appreciate it. Kolkata is at a different level during Durga puja!

Thanks ! It surely is. One has to battle the traffic and the crowd to enjoy it.

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

A big "Thank You" to the author.

Thanks !

Originally Posted by 1100D

Although during the last few days, was involuntarily bombarded with Durga Puja pics on social media, you have still managed to present it in an organised way. What's particularly commendable are your photographs, the way you've managed to compose them, knowing how difficult it usually gets.

You turned out to be a real "Bongo-Sontan" (Son of the Bengali Soil)

Thanks 1100D ! The roots go in pretty deep which hardly people know.

Originally Posted by PapaBravo

We were in the lot who missed the Puja & went for a holiday this year. But here are some pictures from last year.

Thanks Pawan ! Great to see pictures of 2017 Pujas which I missed.

Originally Posted by hok kolorob

My Friend Rana Chakraborty and his family, who sent me all the pictures, thanks to him for taking such pain. I owe you, one buddy.

Singing out for now. As every Bengali would say after the "bhasan" aka immersion of the goddess, "Aschay bochor abar hobay", a loose translation of this will be : we will do same next year also with more zeal. This four days our state turns into God's own state. There are a lot of issues like traffic, standing in the queue, which will irritate you for sure, but if you can overcome that then, happiness has no bounds.

A big Thank you to to you and your friend for sharing the Puja Pictures on this Thread. I am absolutely elated !

I believe the generation nowadays has forgotten happiness in simple things. We need to curate the coming generation to such exposures and make them absorb such pleasures.

Originally Posted by Baddychat

First of all a big thank you to Arav for painstakingly compiling this thread. Someone who has been to the big Pujo's of Kolkata would know the amount of time one has to queue to get into the pandals, even with VIP access passes, leave aside taking photographs and looking around the entire pandal and lighting. More so if a particular Pujo is hyped that year for its theme, decoration et al.
Good choice of car to zip around during the festivities.

Thanks Baddychat ! One needs to start and end at a time when the traffic and the crowd is at it's minimal to cover the Puja Best. We set sail at wee hours to make this comfortably possible.

The BRIO did reduce the stress a lot surely !

[sayakc]

Great thread Arav.
And now that the Pujo is over, your thread will make great memories and evoke nostalgia. This time we spent 3 days till Saptami and went on a short vacation later. Here is a random shot of our parar pujo (Lake Gardens - Bangur Park) clicked on phone.

[ARAY]

Woow, what an epic blog Aravda. I drove 1600kms all the way from Hyderabad to be a part of this madness. I have driven in Kolkata but driving in Kolkata during Pujo is next level I assume. However I heard the traffic is very well controlled and everyone obeys the traffic rules specially during those 4,5 days. I got a virtual trip of Durga Pujo in Kolkata. My Pujo was mostly spent at my native for ancestral Pujo .Belated Happy Durga Pujo to all TeamBhp members .
Ancestral Puja at Mollarpur, Birbhum .

[AJ-got-BHP]

Originally Posted by sayakc

Great thread Arav.
And now that the Pujo is over, your thread will make great memories and evoke nostalgia.

Thanks Sayak !

Originally Posted by ARAY

Woow, what an epic blog Aravda. I drove 1600kms all the way from Hyderabad to be a part of this madness. I have driven in Kolkata but driving in Kolkata during Pujo is next level I assume. However I heard the traffic is very well controlled and everyone obeys the traffic rules specially during those 4,5 days. I got a virtual trip of Durga Pujo in Kolkata. My Pujo was mostly spent at my native for ancestral Pujo .Belated Happy Durga Pujo to all TeamBhp members .
Ancestral Puja at Mollarpur, Birbhum .

Great that you loved the thread !

I am reasonably familiar with Mollarpur. Did not know that your ancestral home was there. Do PM me your number !

[haisaikat]

For those who have preference of

• observing and enjoying Durga Puja far from the crowd and hassle of pandal hopping
• in a completely homely atmosphere
• with a bonus rural touch
• and comfort of a resort with AC rooms and good Bengali food
• yet not far away from the city
• and most important easy to reach

here is a place we visited on 2019 Nobomi.

Name of the place: Sundargram
Location: Rajendrapur, West Bengal
Google Plus Code: FMX3+RV

Booking
Booking can be done by requesting a slot through their website http://sundargram.com/ or calling them or emailing them. They respond back over email with the bank account number to make the transfer and confirm the booking, they have menu / package recommendations but can be customized for general day bookings, less though for special occasions like Durga Puja. We had first visited this place during our Trip to Taki last year https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...sh-border.html and we had planned to make a proper visit sometime in the future. This year while browsing options for a Nabami plan bumped across their website and the special Durga Puja plan from Panchami to Doshomi, decided to give it a go for Nabami

Reaching the Place
It is a resort just 1 hr / 32 KM drive from Science City via Basanti Highway, just after Ghatakpukur. Driving through Basanti Highway is usually daily affair for me considering my office in the Bantala IT Park inside the Leather Complex. Just be careful of the bus and truck drivers whose hands are always itching for overtakes on a single lane highway. Also note there are a couple of speed cams too and a handful of them still work. Nevertheless follow Google Map directions diligently and all will be well. The detour from Basanti Highway on the route to this place immediately changes the scenery from congested highway to serene nature all around. We reached here around 12 noon

The place
There is a parking lot outside the building just on the approach but if you visit on a no rush day you get to park inside too. The place is not that wide but its indeed long way inside till the end



Entering the resort you get to see the narrow pavement going across the length which is the walkway for all.


After the initial officer rooms, on the left you have the fields wide open outside the boundary.



On the right series of hut like cottage houses, surprisingly they are fully air conditioned with Bed and Bath inside.



Its their family Puja so some of their relatives are around and usual guests who have booked rooms. For us who had signed up only for the Puja Special day package it included welcome drinks-snacks and lunch and evening tea. But yes one common AC room was given to all the families to share, sit and lie down in round robin manner. If you want to relax better, book a room.


Next to the stand alone huts / cottages in a center stage where the grand puja is being held and people surrounding it in devotion while the rituals are performed. It is like the center of attraction is literally at the center of the place.





Further south there is a pond for fishing and further its the dining area nicely integrated with the theme with the kitchen at the side.







Food was decent be it in quality, taste or quantity. Remember this place has a homely atmosphere so on one side you might get even surprise items appearing in the menu (for good) and on the other side sometimes you may have to ask for things a little just like you do at home, but its good experience none the less.



We thoroughly enjoyed our day here leaving finally post lunch around 4-30 pm. A recommended visit especially during the Pujas.