Activities You Must Consider While Visiting Kolkata During Durga Puja in 2021

Have you been planning for a long time to visit the City of Joy, Kolkata? Have you been procrastinating and yet, till now, have not been able to put your plan to action? Well, 2021 is the year where you must not hold yourself back. For a very long time, everybody has been stuck at home because of the pandemic. You, too, have made some plans in your head pre-pandemic, so now is the time to bring them to fruition.

Durga puja is right around the corner, and if Kolkata is where you have meant to go all along, then there cannot be a better time than now!  Durga puja is one of those festivals that completely transforms the entire vibe of the city. Kolkata is either way, a beautiful tourist spot for anybody who lives in a different town. It is filled to the brim with the cultural ethos and beautiful locations, which have been there since the British era. Indian Museum and Victoria Memorial are just two of those spots.

Stroll Around the City to Witness the Citizens Gleaming in Joy

The significance of this time of the year is that everybody is drenched in the excitement for Durga puja. When you are making your way back from the airport or railway station, you will be welcomed with lights all around. During this time, everybody gathers together to prepare for the arrival of the festivities.

Calcuttans walking around with stuffed shopping bags is a very common sight to come across especially during this time of festivity! You are most likely to experience traffic jams if you arrive during peak hours, as everybody is returning after a busy day of shopping.

One more thing that you are bound to see on your way back from the airport is pandals. Exquisite works of art that stand majestically due to the tireless hard work of so many people. The sight of themed pandals is guaranteed to spellbind you.

Take in the Magic of the City’s Biggest Celebration – Durga Puja

This year (read 2021), Durga Puja is beginning on 7th October and ending on the 15th of the month. Technically, the puja lasts for eight days, but the five main days that everybody is most excited about are Sasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Nabami, and Dashami. Remember, if you are willing to visit Kolkata with the sole purpose of experiencing Durga puja, you need to plan your trip adequately in advance so that you can witness the entire celebration

As the days pass, and you move towards Maha Sasthi –  the first day of the Durga puja – you will start feeling the vibes, with the puja melodies playing all around your residence. Now, as you begin to plan about how you are going to celebrate, that is when this particular article is going to come in handy. Starting from the best and reasonable restaurants in Kolkata, all the way to the exact locations where the popular pujas take place - well ill discuss it all in detail in this article.

Things You Must Experience During Durga Puja

Even though you can imbibe numerous activities and emotions during Durga puja, you cannot stuff all of them into one article. We will talk about the major ones that you cannot afford to miss at any cost.

Ø  Pandal Hopping should Top Your Priority

It is perhaps the most obvious suggestion anyone would give you while in Kolkata during the Durga puja. When you roam around the streets during the puja, the pandals and the themes that most are based on are the most masterful piece of artistry you can ever come across. Be it during the day or night. Pandal hopping is an experience that you are going to take away with you.

If you plan correctly, you can ensure that you book rooms in hotels near the most popular theme pandals in Kolkata. Some famous pandals are located in S.P. Mukherjee Road, Maddox Square, Badamtala, Deshapriya Park, and Ekdalia Evergreen. Get information about the locations where the best theme pandals are being showcased and visit them one by one.

Ø  Pick Top Car Rental Services in Kolkata to Explore the City

Renting a car is highly crucial, especially if you plan to see as many pandals as possible in a limited time. People in Kolkata also tend to book a car and go pandal hopping throughout the night. Renting a car is also a fabulous option if you want to travel long distances and visit famous pandals away from the hotel you are residing in.

Even though walking from pandal to pandal is a traditional practice among the residents of Kolkata, for any tourist intending to enjoy the complete experience, walking will mean that you will lose a lot of time moving from one spot to another. Yes, you will need to invest money in hiring a car, but it will be worth it.

Ø  Tickle Your Tastebud with Yummy Street Food

Of course, you should visit the best Bengali restaurant in Kolkata and enjoy a premium belly-fill of the most delicious Bengali food. However, local food is in most demand during the puja. You will witness many people getting collected around the small food stalls, especially near the pandals.

Yes, they are not healthy food, but just for the puja week, don’t be concerned about food quality and focus on the experience. Also, these foods are mouth-watering. Egg rolls, fish fries, and jalebis are just a few examples of savouries that you can relish during puja.

Ø  Pick Bike on Rent in Kolkata for Some Adrenaline Rush

We have just talked about renting a car for traveling from pandal to pandal, especially across long distances and for an extended period. However, if you feel for a moment that renting a car for such an extended period is going over your budget for some reason, renting a bike is another very convenient option you can always choose to go for. True, your journey will not be as comfortable as sitting inside a car and moving from one place to another.

However, if you are traveling solo, this mode of transport will bring in a unique advantage. If you rent a bike, you will very quickly go in narrow lanes and streets without any hassle. Even moving through a crowded street will not feel cumbersome. During Durga puja, the roads are immensely congested for apparent reasons, and riding a bike in those streets is more convenient than driving a car.

Ø  Pay a Visit to the Low-key yet Memorable Old Heritage Pujas

As a tourist, it is evident that you should only focus on the biggest and most popular pandals of Kolkata; however, if you believe yourself to be a true traveler by heart, who wants to travel to places not just to have a good time. One who wants to imbibe every location's custom, traditions, and culture - Then you must invest some of your time in visiting house pujas.

Just as Kolkata is famous for its pandals and street food, it is also quite popular for home-hosted Durga pujas. Many families, especially in the north and central Kolkata, conduct full-fledged Durga pujas in their ancestral houses. It is as much a sight to see as the pandals outside. Yes, all the family members will be there, and you will need permission to see their idol, but you are bound to notice the similar hustle and bustle inside their gates.

You can experience proceedings like 'aartis' and 'Dhunuchi Naach' if you are in a pandal or at a house at the right time. If you, in case, visit a house puja on Dashami, you will see women playing with vermillion, greeting each other, and praying that Durga puja happens again soon. You will also notice people of the house taking away the idols from home.

The melody that you experience for the first time during the Durga puja will stay with you even after you go back. You will find these tunes both in the pandals and the house pujas.

Ø  When in Kolkata, Dress Your Best Cultural Self

Even though it is not compulsory, you will feel better if you dress in traditional clothes, especially Ashtami and Dashami. On Ashtami, when the 'Anjali is given early in the morning, people generally wear a saree or a kurta. Even later in the day, people tend to wear traditional clothes, to cherish and mix with the overall vibe of those days. Putting on your best formal attire will make you feel at home.

Durga Puja is a Week-Long Extravaganza

From the above article, you can get the written information about successfully planning a trip to Kolkata during the Durga puja. You can also get ideas about all the different activities you can partake in to know how to enjoy the complete experience. However, do not depend your decision upon any written text. You need to go there and experience it in person to understand how it feels.

Durga puja is not just a week-long festival. It is a phenomenon that the entire Kolkata waits for the whole of the year. Legit countdowns are talked about as the event gets closer. Just like now, when the date is just a few days away, you will see social media with quotes like, "Durga Ma Asche," which means festivities and celebrations are just around the corner.