Last Updated on September 26, 2025 by admin
Durga Puja in Kolkata is not just a festival. It is a feeling that celebrates life and recognises traditions at the same time. When the dhaak drums blare, the enchanting aroma of dhun, and the city radiates with lights, it is an indication that the Durga Puja is back in the city of joy.
In 2025, Kolkata Will Again Turn Colourful With Music, Food, And Happiness For Durga Puja. For the Bengalis and for every visitor who attends the festival, it is a time to welcome the Goddess with love and respect. This festival is not just about the rituals but about people coming together. Families combine, friends plan outings, and the city becomes one big family.
Kolkata sees a lot of tourists during this season only because of Puja’s magic. The pandals across the streets all have a new theme inside. People don their best outfits and go out for pandal hopping, food tasting and cultural programs. It is a time when the city does not sleep. You can observe and feel the crowds cheerfully moving around day and night, along with unbelievably gladdening eyes.
This blog is a simple guide for Durga Puja 2025 in Kolkata. Let’s explore what the festival is all about, where to find the best food, the meaning behind the traditions, and how to participate in its celebrations, even if you are visiting for the first time! Let’s understand what Durga Puja is and what makes it so special in Kolkata. You can also enjoy travelling in Kolkata with Bharat Taxi, which is the finest mode of commute in this city during Durga Puja.
Durga Puja in Kolkata – A Quick Overview
Durga Puja is the biggest festival of West Bengal. It is celebrated at Ashwin month in the Bengali calendar, which comes around September-October every year. This festival celebrates the visit of Goddess Durga with her children, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesh. She is welcomed with joy, prayers, music, and food.
In Kolkata, the celebrations spill over outside homes and temples. The whole city becomes the stage. There are some pandals built in the town which are huge and make beautiful structures. Inside each pandal, not only is there an idol of the Goddess, but also a theme that varies from modern art to the traditional one. Some pandals resemble historical temples, while foreign designs, folk culture, or social messages inspire others. People from all walks of life are invited to see these ‘pandals’.
One of the highlights of the Durga Puja festival is pandal hopping. That means visiting one pandal after another, appreciating the decorations and seeking the Goddess’s blessings. Families, friends, and tourists walk through the city with their groups throughout the day and night to enjoy the light and sound show and take plenty of pictures. The streets are full of people, food stalls and local vendors. There is laughter everywhere.
Another key part of the celebration is bhog. This is the traditional food that is offered to the Goddess and later given to the devotees. The bhog on Ashtami and Nabami consists of khichuri, aloo fry, beguni, chutney, and payesh. On these days, one would notice people standing in a queue outside the pandals. Though it is simple food, it holds the warmth of community and the blessing of the Goddess.
Durga Puja is also about culture. These days, different clubs and societies organise programs of dance, drama and music. The thud of dhak drums, the sight of moving bodies waving dhunuchi on a cloud of incense smoke, and the rituals guiding us through sindoor khela on Dashami, memories forever remain etched in the mind.
Most importantly, Durga Puja in Kolkata is about unity. It’s about human beings forgetting their differences of religion, caste, age, etc. and being one big family. This is why the Durga Puja Festival is not a festival for Bengalis alone but for everyone who comes to the city. Book taxi service in Kolkata and enjoy with the city of joy.
Where to Eat During Durga Puja 2025
If you are in Kolkata during Durga Puja, food will call you from every corner of the street. The city is known for its tasty food. Also, during the festival, one gets excited about the food. Whether you love to eat street food or enjoy fine dining experiences, Durga Puja offers something for everyone.
Street Food Delights
You must try the street food to experience the festival’s true spirit. You can check out small stalls selling phuchka, kathi rolls, ghugni, egg devil, fish fry, and chowmein as you hop from one pandal to the next. After a long walk, the crunch of a hot phuchka filled with sweet and sour tamarind water refreshes you. The Kathi rolls loaded with chicken, mutton or paneer will win your hearts. They are loved by locals and visitors alike.
You must try Ghugni, which is made from dried yellow peas cooked with spices. It comes with chopped onions, coriander and lemon for squeezing over it. Snacks such as egg devil and fish chop have a crispy flavour ideal for the festive season. People love street vendors for their jalebis, sondesh, or rosogoll, among many more. Do you have a sweet tooth too?
Eating from these stalls is just as lovely as the taste. The atmosphere makes it even better! Consider standing under the fairy lights with music while you take a bite of hot and spicy street food. This is the authentic flavour of Kolkata during Puja.
Traditional Bengali Dishes
Authentic Bengali cuisine is a must for Durga Puja. Never forget to grab some bhog when you visit a pandal at noon. The bhog is soulful but straightforward. It typically consists of khichuri, a dish made from rice and lentils, with crisp-fried potatoes and brinjal fritters. The meal would not be complete without a side of chutney and payesh, they added. It’s a memorable experience to have bhog on the floor with hundreds of people surrounding you. You’ll never forget it.
In addition to bhog, eateries in Kolkata also serve many traditional meals like luchi with aloo dum, cholar dal with kochuri, shukto, chingri malai curry, and more. Luchi is a fried flatbread that goes well with spicy potato curry. One of Bengal’s most signature dishes, Chingri malai curry or prawns in coconut milk, is much loved across the globe. Without sweets like mishti doi and sondesh, no Bengali meal can be complete.
Iconic Restaurants to Try
If you are looking to sit down and enjoy a proper meal, consider the iconic hotels in Kolkata, which offer a lot during Durga Puja. Peter Cat in Park Street is known for its chelo kebab. 6 Ballygunge Place is the best for Bengali thali. If you are looking to taste local flavours in a comfortable setting, Oh Calcutta and Bhojohori Manna are great options.
Whether it is lunch or dinner, these restaurants do get busy during the Puja so you should either plan early or be ready to wait for a table. The vibe inside these places is just so festive. Families and groups enjoying their food, laughing and having a joyful time, make it fun.
Tips for Foodies
Nowhere is more densely populated than Calcutta at Puja time. So, if you have a craving for street food, it’s best to go in the evening. And one benefit of going in the evening is that the stalls are relatively fresh at this time. Plus, they are stuffed with energy and deliciousness. For bhog, reach the pandals around noon to secure a spot in the line. To avoid waiting for long hours at restaurants, you must pre-book the table before the mealtime.
“Save some room in your tummy as Rabindranath Tagore Puja Kolkata has endless food options.” Every lane and corner will tempt you with something new. Having food in Kolkata during Durga Puja won’t just fill your stomach. To be part of a tradition, to savour culture, to make a memory.
What to Wear – Durga Puja Fashion Guide 2025
Durga Puja is not only about rituals and food. It is also the biggest fashion week of Bengal. Kolkata transforms into a fashion runway from Panchami to Dashami. People spend time choosing their outfits and wear different dresses every day.
Traditional Outfits
For women, sarees are the heart of Puja fashion. On the sixth and seventh days of Durga Puja, visitors can see several women wearing bright colored cotton sarees like taant or jamdani. This is because these elegant drapes are light and easy to carry making them perfect for all-day pandal hopping and festivities. On Ashtami, the red and white saree takes centre stage. This appearance is simple yet so strong that it has become the look of the festival. Heavy sarees like Baluchar, silk, and tussar are brought out on Nabami and Dashami.
Men usually go for a kurta with pyjamas or a dhoti. During Puja, the white kurta, accompanied by a red border, or silk kurtas with embroidery, always look graceful. Many men wear plain white kurtas on Ashtami. On Nabami, they opt for bright colours like yellow, blue, and maroon.
Trendy Outfits for Youngsters
Young boys and girls also love to blend tradition with contemporary style. Boys choose classic clothing such as white and beige kurta-pyjamas and sherwanis, which look bright and traditional. Boys often wear casual kurtas with jeans or chinos. The key is to be comfortable since pandal hopping goes on for hours, yet looks festive and stylish.
Accessories and Styling
The saree is complete with a red bindi, a pair of jhumkas, and bangles. Silver jewellery is very trendy in Kolkata. They lend themselves to both saree and Indo-western looks. A kurta looks elegant with a subtle watch or bracelet for men. Since there will be lots of walking, you must wear comfortable shoes or juttis.
Married women wear red and white sarees on Dashami. They also do sindoor khela, which means they put vermilion on each other’s faces. Her red bindi and traditional gold jewellery lend a divine touch to the look.
Shopping Spots
If you’re in Kolkata before Puja, you know the shopping is part of it. New Market, Gariahat and Hatibagan are good areas for budget shopping. For branded clothes and stylish outfits, go to South City Mall and Quest Mall. Online shopping sites also run special Puja collections for those who like to shop from home.
Fashion during Durga Puja is not only about clothes. This festival is expressing colors and respect to the Goddess through traditions. Wearing new clothes is auspicious, and according to the belief, every outfit you wear during the Puja brings its own blessings home.
How to Celebrate Durga Puja in Kolkata
Durga Puja is an experience that touches every sense. The visuals, sounds, fragrances, and feelings all merge to create a magical experience. If you’re celebrating in Kolkata in 2025, here’s how you can make the most of it.
Pandal Hopping
The most exciting part of Puja is pandal hopping. From Panchami to Dashami, people spend a lot of time hopping from pandals. Famous pandals are located in places like Kumartuli, College Square, Suruchi Sangha, Ekdalia Evergreen, Bagbazar and Santosh Mitra Square. Each pandal is decorated with unique themes. Some of the pandals decorated here look like ancient temples, while others depict social messages through artwork. Best enjoyed with friends or family. The evening is when people typically start, often going late into the night. There is so much energy in the crowd. You feel intelligent when you visit a place filled with light and music after walking for long hours.
Cultural Programs
Durga Puja is also a festival of art and culture. Many pandals and clubs organise performances like dance, drama, and music. You will hear Rabindra Sangeet, see traditional dances, and occasionally modern theatre. Visitors can enjoy these programs free of charge, which brings a festive mood around the pandals.
The sound of the dhaak drum is another symbol of Puja. The fragrance is potent and very strong, especially when combined with incense, which enhances the spiritual atmosphere of the place.
Rituals to Experience
Visitors can also participate in the many rituals of Durga Puja. On the morning of Ashtami, pushpanjali is offered. Here, the devotees chant mantras and offer flowers to the Goddess. In the evening, the dhunuchi dance is performed by men and women with the clay pot of burning incense in their hands, with the dhaak beat.
On Dashami, sindoor khela is celebrated by married women. They smear vermilion on the visage of the Goddess and each other. It is a moment filled with laughter and emotion. After that, all the idols are immersed in the river with shouts of “Bolo Durga Mai Ki Jai.”.
Community Spirit
Kolkata Puja celebration is a joyous experience with the warmth of people. Families invite guests, neighbourhoods share bhog, and queues become more fun as people become friends. The entire city becomes one large family.
Puja means new clothes, balloons and ice cream for children. For elders, it is about nostalgia and prayers. Millennials are into friends, selfies, and long walks. Yet for everyone, it is about celebrating life.
Travel Tips for Durga Puja 2025 Visitors
Kolkata can get very crowded during Puja, but you can enjoy Puja stress-free with these tips.
Getting Around the City
The best way to travel is by metro. The metro saves you from traffic jams and covers the critical areas. Autos and cycle rickshaws are helpful for short distances. You can take a taxi or an app cab, but they may be struck in traffic at peak hours. If you want to see pandals in the same neighbourhood, walking is the most enjoyable way.
Safety Tips
Because of the crowd, it is essential to be careful. Keep your belongings safe and avoid carrying too much cash. If your young children are with you, make sure to grab their hands tightly in busy areas. Wear comfortable shoes because you will be on your feet a lot. Keep a water bottle and some snacks handy.
Budget Tips
You can enjoy Durga Puja in a luxurious or pocket-friendly way. For those travelling on a budget, street food and bhog are enough to fill your stomach with happiness. Guest houses and small hotels near central Kolkata are good value for money. Pandal hopping of the festival is free, so that is the central part you are getting across.
Best Time to Visit Pandals
To beat the crowd, visit the pandals in the morning or early afternoon. The teeming crowds at night would make it hard to get a good view. You either prefer to admire lights or want to enjoy comfort accordingly.
Durga Puja is about enjoying without hurry. Try to walk slowly, take your time and let the city touch your spirit.
Durga Puja 2025 Calendar – Key Dates.
According to the lunar calendar, the dates of Durga Puja change every year. In 2025, the critical days are as follows.
Mahalaya – September 18, 2025: The start of Puja. On this day, the people awake early to the chant of Mahishasura Mardini. It is time for the Goddess to come down to earth.
On Shashthi, which falls on 27 September 2025, the face of the Goddess is unveiled in the pandals. The excitement begins from here.
Saptami – 28 September 2025
The main ritual day. In the morning, they take the Nabapatrika to the river for bathing and then place it beside the Goddess.
Ashtami 2025: The Second Most Important Day of Puja, September 29 2025.
People offer pushpanjali, and the bhog is recommended in most pandals. In the night, the dhunuchi dance is accompanied by smoke and sound.
30 September 2025, Nabami – Theme of the Day. Cultural programs and special rituals take place. Families & friends go pandal hopping and enjoy the food.