Durga Puja In West Bengal - Kolkata

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When it comes to Navaratri, how can anyone forget the most famous Durga Puja celebrations of Kolkata? It is very special that even UNESCO included it in the list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ in 2021. It seems this was the first festival in Asia to be included in this list.

You’ll notice majestic pandals of the Goddess located in several parts of the city, which are made by expert artists and craftsmen. Since this festival marks the homecoming of the goddess along with her children, you can witness the pandals where the statue of Durga will be accompanied by Ganesha and Kartikeya, along with Lakshmi and Saraswathi.

Special traditions during Durga Puja

• Bhog: It is a community feast where you can enjoy tasting delicious vegetarian dishes prepared in the local traditions.
• Dhunuchi Dance: It is an energetic dance performed by holding earthen burners in their hands. These earthen pot, called ‘dhunuchi’, is filled with burning coconut husk and camphor.
• ‘Dhaak’ is a traditional Bengali drum. This dance is performed in the rhythm of beats on this drum.
• Sindoor Khela: On the last day of the festival, married women celebrate this by applying vermilion on each other.

Durga Puja in Odisha - Cuttack

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Same as in West Bengal, the Durga Puja is celebrated with the same grandeur in Odisha, especially in Cuttack. The celebration in Cuttack is extremely special and is worth visiting.

The ‘Silver City’

Cuttack is famous in several aspects. It is renowned for its beautiful ‘silver filigree’ works, hence famously called the ‘Silver City’. The idols of the goddess are adorned with this artistic ‘silver filigree’ or ‘tarakasi’
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Nothing to be confused about this! These silver filigrees are nothing but silver wirework. Various crafts are created using these silver strings in a particular pattern. Due to its uniqueness, it received a ‘Geographic Indication’ tag in 2024.

Special features of Durga Puja in Odisha

• Silver and gold filigree: Similar to the works using silver, they also create artistic craft materials using gold. It will be adorned as the crown or other jewels on the goddess. They even create backdrops using gold or silver wires.
• Bhasani: Bhasani is the grand procession on the Vijaya Dashami day. The idols are taken and brought through processions before immersing them in the water. The event is a treat to the eyes!
• Bhai Chaara: This is something very special. The Muslim artisans play an important role in the silver filigree works on the ‘medhas’. ‘Medhas’ are the backdrops behind the idols of the gods and goddesses.

The rituals are done similarly to those in West Bengal. Odia families offer special Odia cuisines and enjoy them along with their families and loved ones.

Dasara in Karnataka - Mysuru

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Like Kolkata in West Bengal and Cuttack in Odisha, the celebrations in Mysuru city of Karnataka are the most famous. The celebrations find roots in the royal tradition of the ‘Wadiyar Royal Family’.

Key features of Dasara in Karnataka - Mysuru

• Jumboo Savari: It is a grand procession held on the day of ‘Vijayadashami’, where the idol of the goddess is placed in a golden throne above a well-decorated elephant. The procession, with dance and music, is a perfect feast for our eyes!
• Illuminated palace: The royal palace will glow in golden lights lit around the palace. The palace will stay illuminated for the entire Dasara celebrations.
• Bombe Habba: It is doll arrangements made on a tiered platform [looks like steps], which is kept in many houses.

Recommended reading: Mysuru Dasara - A Royal Festival of India

Durga Puja in Tamil Nadu

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Across Tamil Nadu, the festival is celebrated in the same grandeur. Like ‘bombe habba’ in Karnataka, Tamil families also keep the dolls called ‘golu bommai’ during all these 9 days.

They worship the goddess through these ten days [including the Vijayadashami day], by decorating the goddess in various forms each day.

The last three days of Dasara are the main highlight. People worship their tools and vehicles on the ninth day and use them on the tenth day with the blessings of their mother.

Simollanghan in Maharashtra

Simollanghan involves crossing of one’s village/city boundaries in the afternoon of Vijayadashami. The ceremony will conclude with the worship of the ‘shami tree’ or ‘apta tree’. This tradition of worshipping the tree has its roots in the ancient epic, the ‘Mahabharat’.

Garba & Dhandiya in Gujarat

In Gujarat, the celebrations are made special with dances.

Garba

The ‘garba’ dance is performed before the Aarti [a ritual] to the goddess. This dance involves circular movements and rhythmic clapping. A clay pot is placed in the middle, around which they dance. A lamp is lit inside the pot. This dance is to signify the life and feminine energy of the goddess.

Dhandiya

The ‘dhandiya’ is to showcase and recreate the energetic battle between the goddess and the demon. It involves rhythmic striking of the dhandiya sticks to represent the sounds of swords clashing. This dance is performed in pairs.

Both these dances are performed throughout the Dasara. The dancers dance in their traditional dresses. Witness it and enjoy!

Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh - Kullu

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The Kullu Dussehra is one of the most famous. It is internationally known, like the Mysuru Dasara. In the northern part of the country, the festival is celebrated slightly differently. They prioritise the victory of Ram over Ravan. Lord Ram is the main deity of the Kullu valley.

Special events during the Kullu Dussehra

• Charriot Procession: Here, the celebrations start on Vijayadashami. This is the day when the Navaratri celebrations end across the country, but here it starts on that day.
  
  The chariot procession or the ‘rath yatra’ is the main event. Lord Ram’s idol is placed on a wooden chariot. People from the nearby villages bring the idols of their deities on a planquine. Lord Ram is greeted by these village deities. Many people visit to watch the magnificent procession.
   
• Lanka Dahan: The festival is celebrated for just a week with all cultural events like dance and music. On the last day of the festival, Lord Ram is taken to the banks of the river Beas, where a bonfire is lit. This is to signify the burning of Lanka in the ancient epic Ramayana.

Ram Lila in Uttar Pradesh

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Like in Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh also prioritises the victory of lord Ram over Ravan. ‘Ram Lila’ is a drama where the life of Lord Ram is enacted. This drama is hosted across the state in various cities and villages.

The Ram Lila hosted in Varanasi is the most famous. Here, it is hosted for a month. The celebrations conclude on the day of Vijayadashami. On this day, huge effigies of Ravana and his two brothers are set ablaze. This is to signify the victory of Ram over Ravana.

Conclusion

India’s rich diversity of cultures and traditions makes it truly special to see the same festival celebrated in various ways. Now that you’ve explored the top destinations to experience these vibrant celebrations, remember that many other places also celebrate them with grandeur. However, the locations highlighted above are must-see experiences that deserve a place on your travel list at least once in your lifetime.

Bag2Bag wishes you a very happy and prosperous Dasara!

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