From Ram temple to Vande Mataram, Kolkata Durga Pujas draw on heritage, nationalism for inspiration
Kolkata's Durga Puja celebrations this year feature themes inspired by India's civilisational heritage, nationalism and cultural identity, from a replica of the Ram temple at Mohammed Ali Park to a Vande Mataram installation marking 150 years of the national song. Other pandals celebrate rural Bengal's traditions and showcase a towering Bharat Mata statue.
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 17: Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited (NSE: STARHEALTH) (BSE: 543412), one of India's leading standalone health insurance companies, today announced the introduction of 'Bishram Grih' at select Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata and Durgapur. The first-of-its-kind initiative by Star Health offers pandal hoppers a comfortable lounge-style space to Rest, Relax & Rejuvenate during their Puja journey. Each Bishram Grih will also feature a technology-led Face Scan health assessment, enabling visitors to gain quick insights into select health indicators.
HM Amit Shah to Visit Kolkata's Durga Puja Pandals On Saturday Evening
Shah will visit Ramakrishna Mission headquarters Belur Math, Deshbandhu Club Durga Puja pandal in Howrah district's Bally and Sovabazar Rajbari
TMC MP writes to UNHCR over denial of drinking water in Kolkata colony
Samirul Islam alleged that drinking water supply to Jyoti Nagar Colony was cut off after the BJP came to power in West Bengal. Because the residents are Muslims and are not considered part of the BJPs so-called vote bank, he said
Airfares soar as Ayudha Puja holiday rush builds in Chennai
Digital Desk | Chennai, Oct 17 (IANS) A sharp rise in airfares ahead of the Ayudha Puja and Vijayadashami holidays has left passengers travelling from Chennai facing higher expenses, as demand surges for journeys to hometowns and tourist destinations. With Ayudha Puja falling on October 19 and Vijayadashami on October 20, the adjoining weekend offers a four-day holiday break for many travellers. The extended holiday has prompted a rush out of the city, putting pressure on flights, trains and buses. Air ticket prices from Chennai to several destinations have increased manifold amid the holiday demand. Passengers heading to cities within Tamil Nadu, neighbouring states and major metropolitan centres are among those affected by the steep fares. Routes witnessing the increase include ChennaiThoothukudi, ChennaiCoimbatore and ChennaiSalem. Fares have also risen for flights to Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Vijayawada, affecting passengers travelling across southern India during the festive break. The surge extends to longer routes, with tickets from Chennai to Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata also becoming considerably more expensive. The increase across multiple destinations has added to the financial burden of passengers planning festive visits or short holidays. The holiday rush is visible across other modes of transport as well. Trains and buses leaving Chennai are experiencing heavy crowds, as large numbers of residents seek to reach their destinations ahead of the celebrations. For passengers considering air travel amid the crowded surface transport services, the higher ticket prices have made the journey more costly. The demand for flights coincides with the broader movement of people leaving Chennai for the extended break. The convergence of festival travel and weekend leisure trips has intensified the outward rush. While many passengers are returning to their native places to celebrate with relatives, others are using the consecutive holidays to visit tourist destinations. The fare increases affect both short domestic journeys and travel to distant cities, leaving passengers on a wide range of routes facing substantially higher ticket costs during the same holiday period. With crowds building on trains and buses and airfares climbing across several sectors, travellers leaving Chennai face a difficult combination of busy services and expensive flight tickets. The four-day break has concentrated demand into a short travel window, making the festive getaway a costly exercise for many passengers seeking to spend the holidays away from the city with family or friends.
Bengal Durga Puja business booms for big organisers, smaller committees lag
West Bengal's Durga Puja commercial landscape was marked by uneven gains this year, with large puja organisers, malls, organised retailers and e-commerce platforms reporting brisk business, while smaller puja committees, traditional markets and hawkers struggled to keep pace. While government data showed 13,000 more pujas being organised this year than last, the divide between big-budget celebrations and smaller community pujas remained stark. Large and traditionally popular puja organisers reported fully booked outdoor advertising slots, with rates rising by at least 20 per cent amid the growing use of LED displays. Smaller committees, however, faced weaker advertising demand, with some outdoor advertising slots remaining vacant. Kajol Sarkar, an office-bearer of the Forum for Durgotsab, an umbrella body representing over 550 community Durga Puja committees in Kolkata, Howrah and their suburbs, said advertisers were concentrating on specific routes rather than spreading their ...
Kolkatas Bonedi Bari Durga Puja: The ancestral homes preserving centuries of tradition
Kolkatas Bonedi Bari Durga pujas bring together grand colonial-era architecture, family legacies and heirloom recipes. While the citys pandals draw the biggest crowds, these ancestral homes offer a more intimate glimpse of the festival, following family traditions dating back more than 300 years
Akhilesh dares CM Yogi to contest from Ayodhya in assembly election
Promising to accelerate the growth of Ayodhya, the SP leader alleged rampant demolition under BJPs watch in the name of development
Kolkata Celebrates Maha Saptami with Enthusiastic Devotees at Durga Puja Pandals
Kolkatas streets come alive with vibrant lights and eager devotees celebrating Maha Saptami during Durga Puja festivities. Kolkata Celebrates Maha Saptami with Enthusiastic Devotees at Durga Puja Pandals
Rohan Bopanna returns to action, will represent Gurgaon Grand Slammers in TPL
Argentina's world No. 60 Roman Burruchaga, representing the Kolkata Thunder Blades, will be the highest-ranked singles player in the league
PM, HMlikely to skip West Bengal govts mega Mahalaya event
The West Bengal government is holding the grand Mahalaya event at Eden Gardens cricket stadium and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was supposed to attend the grand event.
Left parties allege attack on bookstalls; Calcutta High Court stays previous order allowing stalls
Party leadershave said that this is an attack on free thinking and have vowed to set up more stalls as a form of protest
Kolkata lottery firm donates Rs 260 cr to DMK, AIADMK
A Kolkata-based lottery firm, Tiger Associates, donated Rs 260 crore to Tamil Nadu's DMK and AIADMK in 2025-26, significantly increasing its contributions from the previous financial year. The firm accounted for nearly 74% of the combined contributions reported by the two parties, highlighting a concentration of political funding. The disclosures also revealed contributions from electoral trusts and a link between Tiger Associates' partner and lottery magnate Santiago Martin, whose other firm was a major electoral bond purchaser.
Heavy Rain Disrupts Chennai Airport Operations
An IndiGo flight from Kolkata, carrying 162 passengers, was diverted to Tiruchy.
Foreigners join citys pre-puja rush, soak in festive vibes
Greater Manchester mayor woos Kol Inc, discusses cricket centre
Calcutta University invites applications for 148 engineering seats
Refund semester fees taken during admission, Calcutta University tells law colleges
CPM lodges at least 10 complaints against stall attacks
Calcutta High Court stay on police cover for CPM book stall, removal order for illegal stalls
Kol restos limit alcohol to4 pegs during puja season
New puja roll of honour after change in regime
Sasthi footfall: New crowd-pullers steal a march on old favourites
Clubs, civic bodies launch zero-waste Durga Puja
Barrier-free pandals welcome disabled visitors
Sussex Univ to display sculpture made after RG Kar tragedy
Underprivileged kids go pandal-hopping with TOI
Paediatrician saves flyer after suspected heart attack on Paris-Del flight
S Bengal got 8% more rain this monsoon, north 13% less
The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case involving alleged financial irregularities and manipulation...
SRFTI suspends classes till Nov 13, orders students to vacate campus
Community Durga Puja and politics are interlinked in Kolkata for centuries
After its win in Assembly polls, Bengal BJP leaders take control of Pujas ousting TMC By Tirthankar Mitra KOLKATA: Time was when Durga Puja, the biggest festival of Bengal was performed at the ancestral houses of zamindars and big traders, both of whom had made their fortunes in the services of the British [] The post Community Durga Puja and politics are interlinked in Kolkata for centuries appeared first on Northlines .
RSS expands Bengal footprint, opens 5,000 shakhas in 10-day drive
Sujit moves SC over HC bail denial
SC grants bail to former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh
Minister plans sports zones under flyovers and bridges
8 lakh beneficiaries added to Annapurna Yojana on Panchami
Your Didi is with you: Mamata condemns Dipke detention
After attack on home, now Bikash gets death threat call
EC to publish integrated draft Bengal voter roll, with tribunal-included names, on Nov 12
Andhra's Kalamkari Art Takes Centre Stage At Kolkata's Durga Puja Pandal
Kalamkari art form from Andhra Pradesh is finding a new canvas in Kolkata Durga Puja as the 74 Pally Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee in Kidderpore features the art known for its hand-drawn and hand-painted motifs in its Puja pandal.
Kolkata Durga Puja Pandal Unveils Maha Milan Theme
Visuals from the 77th Dhakuria Shaheed Nagar Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, West Bengal. Built around the theme Maha Milan, the pandal was inaugurated by West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi on October 14.
22, 24 carat Gold prices remain steady across metro cities on October 16
Kolkata: First-ever Durga Puja with theme Ram Ki Ayodhya; Guv Ravi graces the inauguration
Kolkata: First-ever Durga Puja with theme Ram Ki Ayodhya; Guv Ravi graces the inauguration
Todays Gold Rate in India October 12: Gold prices down in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru
22, 24 carat Gold prices down across metro cities on October 12
Bengal govt to be custodian of 'enemy properties': CM Suvendu
Kolkata's Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that the Centre will assign enemy properties to the West Bengal government. These properties include various assets left by individuals who migrated to enemy countries. The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved this decision after recent discussions at the BIMSTEC meeting. The state government plans to use revenue from these properties for local development projects.
Adorned with lights and steeped in lore, Durga Puja pandals open for devotees across nation
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Durga Puja celebrations officially began in several parts of the nation as Navratri reached its sixth day. The pandal doors were opened to the public, drawing thousands of devotees seeking blessings. The city of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand transformed into a vibrant hub of devotion, joy, and celebration as community-led festivities reached their peak on Friday. Major socio-cultural and religious organisations, including the Hindi Club, Ranikudar, Sri Sri Rankini Mandir, Sri Utkal Durga Puja Committee, Agrico Puja Committee, and Tuiladungri Puja Committee, unveiled massive, intricately designed pandals. Elaborate thematic decorations, synchronised light displays, and traditional Vedic rituals have deeply immersed the local residents in the spirit of worship. Jamshedpur boasts a legacy of hosting approximately 500 distinct Durga Puja celebrations across the city, making it one of the region's largest cultural congregations. Local organising committees have deployed dedicated volunteers and coordinated infrastructure to manage the heavy footfall, ensuring safety and accessibility for families and visitors. As the multi-day festival progresses, the entire city remains unified in a rare blend of community bonding and spiritual reverence. As the nation marked the sixth day of Shardiya Navratri 2006, dedicated to Maa Katyayani, pandals were adorned across cities in West Bengal and other states, including Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Devotees were seen hopping between pandals and seeking blessings of the Goddess. Speaking to IANS at the unveiling of Goddess Durgas idol at Kolkatas renowned Tala Barowaris 106th Durga Puja celebrations, a devotee and organiser, Abhishek Bhattacharya, said, We worship the Shakti in three forms: one is Durga, one is Saraswati, and one is Lakshmi. We know through the Puranas and Vedas that Shakti possesses the divine power of Dasha Maha-vidya and Navadurga - the Navadurga of Uma. This is what we have tried to portray in our pandal. Furthermore, in Uttarakhands Kashipur, a seven-day Durga Puja festival has been organised from October 15 to 21, featuring religious rituals, cultural performances, bhajan evenings, and community feasts, with the inauguration by Mayor Deepak Bali. In Jharkhand, JMM general secretary Binod Kumar Pandey and party spokesperson Manoj Kumar Pandey inaugurated the Durga Puja pandal at Harmu Panch Mandir near Harmu Chowk by cutting the ribbon. Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, artist Hafizuddin Ahmed spoke to IANS and narrated how he has been making Ravan effigies for Dusshera for the past 50 years. I make effigies of Ravana, I make Tazia, I do set/scenery design work, and if any order comes from the film industry, I handle that too. As for how many generations, he said, I watched my father work, and he told me that his father and grandfather also used to do this same work.
Gold and silver prices today, 16 October: Check the latest 24K, 22K gold and 999 silver retail rates across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major Indian cities, along with MCX market updates.
Kolkata Durga Puja pandals highlight devotion and social themes
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Durga puja in Kolkata: The family that offers five kinds of fish to the goddess
In a 237-year-old Durga puja in Behala, hilsa is offered to the goddess on Navami. The rituals, heirloom recipes and Dhakai jewellery of the Bandyopadhyay family preserve the food traditions and cultural heritage of their East Bengal homeland
Kolkata mall enters Pujo map with Jatra-themed celebration
22, 24 carat Gold prices up across metro cities on October 9
Odisha to continue with ballot papers for rural polls, EVMs for urban
A house-to-house survey for the preparation of electoral rolls for the upcoming Panchayat and Municipal Elections2027 will begin on October 26
Kolkata Court Orders Mahua Moitra to Remove Defamatory Posts Against Chief Secretary
A Kolkata court has ordered MP Mahua Moitra to delete social media posts labeling the chief secretary as a vote thief. Kolkata Court Orders Mahua Moitra to Remove Defamatory Posts Against Chief Secretary
SRFTI rusticates 6 students for assaulting VC, vandalising office
Muslims off committees barring pockets, shared Durga Puja tradition frays in Kol
JU Starts Engineering Decentralised Counselling & Spot Admission
Doc, Ambulance Must At Big Construction Sites
Health Scheme: 5 AIIMS Centres Added, Oncology Op Rates Fixed
Work On Kona Expressway Flyover Piers To Pick Up Pace During Puja
Display Of ICU Bed Status Must, Bengal Govt Tells Hospitals
Civic check at 4 Park Street restaurants, food samples collected
Revellers brave Panchami rain, throng pandals since morning
Rainbow roads lose sheen as skid scare forces safety fixes
24-Hour control room at Nabanna, districts
Kolkata Police, hospitals take disabled, ailing kids on puja tours
Airfare @ Rs 8.5k, bus ticket @ Rs 4.5k, puja trip to N Bengal pinches pockets
Bengali diaspora transcends borders, hosts Durga Puja celebrations across Europe, US
Pujas pay tribute to Mahanayak with posters, lobby cards and installations
UCO Bank net profit rises 27% to 786 crore in July-September quarter
Public sector UCO Bank on Thursday reported a 27 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 786 crore for the second quarter ended September 30. The Kolkata-based lender earned a net profit of Rs 620 crore in the same period last fiscal year. Total income increased to Rs 8,170 crore in the second quarter from Rs 7,421 crore a year ago, UCO Bank said in a regulatory filing. Interest income improved to Rs 7,286 crore in the September quarter of FY27 from Rs 6,537 crore in the year-ago period. Operating profit also increased to Rs 1,872 crore against Rs 1,613 crore in the same quarter a year ago. On the asset quality front, the bank's gross non-performing assets (NPAs) moderated to 1.96 per cent of gross advances at the end of September 2026 compared to 2.56 per cent a year ago. Net NPAs or bad loans came down to 0.18 per cent at the end of September 2026 compared to 0.43 per cent at the end of September 2025. However, provisioning against bad loans rose marginally to Rs 444 crore during th
Rajkummar Rao to join Sourav Ganguly at his childhood Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata on Mahashtami
The team of Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story is set to mark its first major public appearance in Kolkata during Durga Puja. Actor Rajkummar Rao, who plays former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly in the upcoming biopic, will join Ganguly on Mahashtami to visit some of the pandals the cricketer has been visiting since childhood. Ever since the makers announced Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story, the film has drawn attention. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg, the film features Rajkummar Rao in the lead role as Ganguly. It is scheduled to release in theatres on May 14, 2027. With Durga Puja celebrations underway across Kolkata, the film's team is planning a visit to the city on Mahashtami. The occasion will bring Ganguly and Rao together in public for the first time since the film's announcement. Rao is expected to travel to Kolkata on Monday to take part in the festivities. During the visit, he will accompany Ganguly to several prominent Durga Puja pandals in South Kolkata. The itinerary includes local pandals that Ganguly has frequented since childhood, where the two are expected to offer prayers and interact with local residents. Select members of the film's crew will also join them during the visit. The appearance comes as the makers look to connect with audiences in Bengal during one of the state's biggest cultural celebrations. By bringing the actor and the former cricketer together at the festivities, the team will also have an opportunity to engage with cricket enthusiasts and moviegoers ahead of the film's theatrical release. With the biopic scheduled to arrive in cinemas in May 2027, the Mahashtami visit will offer audiences in Kolkata an early opportunity to see Rao and Ganguly together as the film's promotional activities begin to take shape. Also Read : Rajkummar Rao on working with his FTII classmate Jaideep Ahlawat in Prahaar, We share a comfort zone because we have spent so many years together
New BC Roy Mkt opens, 100 of 416 stall owners shift wares
Poster row: Presi probe report in 15 days, wont tolerate such acts, says min
Tanker spill triggers skids, traffic chaos on Jessore Rd
Tata Power plans Rs 2,500 crore investment for 500MW solar project in Bengal
Woman dies after fall from 9th floor
HC rejects Indranils anticipatory bail plea in massArt case
Left book stall vandalised, 88-yr-old, others assaulted in South Kolkata
Mothers name off voter list no ground to stall sons police verification: HC
Calcutta High Court orders release, repatriation of Bangladeshi convict
Waterspout near Gangasagar bathing ghat triggers panic
Dont let anyone spoil festive mood: CM to cops, committees
Spear Corps Commander visits Assam Rifles in Manipur
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 15 (IANS) Lt Gen Girish Kalia, general officer commanding (GOC), Spear Corps, visited a forward post of the Assam Rifles in Manipur on Thursday and reviewed the prevailing security situation in the area. He was briefed by local commanders on the operational preparedness of the troops manning the porous India-Myanmar border. India shares a 1,643 km long border with Myanmar. Of this, 398 km are in Manipur. Fencing of the border has started, and nearly 55 km has been completed in Manipur. The government plans to complete the fencing by 2028. However, there are challenges that authorities are facing during the fencing work. Terrain is an issue. Several stretches along the border are hilly and forested. There is also resistance from militant outfits that use the border to move between the two countries. An Assam Rifles patrol was recently ambushed at a spot where fencing work is underway in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. A soldier lost his life in the attack. There have been attacks on the Assam Rifles in Manipur as well. In July this year, two soldiers were killed after a convoy was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the Ukhrul district. This happened close to the India-Myanmar border as well. The GOC's visit comes at a time when the valley-based Meiteis are continuing to demand the ouster of the Assam Rifles from the state, accusing the force of favouritism towards the hill-based Kuki-Zo community. They have also claimed that the Assam Rifles failed to manage the ethnic conflict effectively. Even the Nagas in the state have raised their voices against the Assam Rifles in recent times after clashes broke out with the Kukis. On October 15, 2026, even when Lt Gen Kalia was visiting Manipur, Leishiyo Keishing, the Naga People's Front MLA from Phungyar, accused the 11 Assam Rifles of dereliction of duty. He, along with a team, was returning to Imphal after a tour of border areas when residents of Chassad allegedly blocked public movement, leaving nearly 20 vehicles, including his convoy, stranded for nearly two hours. This happened at the Kamjong market, where residents blocked roads at two locations using stones and other large objects. The blockade was lifted after the intervention of Kamjong Police, Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel. A Casspir armoured vehicle was deployed to clear the obstructions. After crossing Chassad, Keishing alleged that Assam Rifles personnel had failed to intervene despite their responsibility to protect border residents and maintain security. He also accused the force of focusing on business activities instead of its assigned duties. Over the last few days, the Assam Rifles has made attempts to reach out to both Naga and Kuki community leaders to ease tensions between the two communities.
Kolkata court asks Mahua Moitra to immediately delete objectionable post targeting current Bengal CS
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 15 (IANS) A court in Kolkata on Thursday directed Mahua Moitra, the Trinamool Congress-Mamata Lok Sabha member from Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district of West Bengal, to immediately delete two derogatory social media posts made by her about the current West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal over the latter's role in the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise when he was the State's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). In the social media post, Moita described Agarwal as Vote Chor (Vote Thief). Agarwal first served a legal notice to Moitra over the posts and subsequently filed a defamation suit against her demanding a libel compensation of Rs 10 crore. The matter came up for hearing at a lower court at Alipore in South Kolkata on Thursday and at the end of the hearing the judge of the court said that Krishnagar Lok Sabha MP will not be able to share any new post on social media making any defamatory comments against the Chief Secretary and will also not be able to re-share any old social media post related to the same matter. The court also said that the social media posts that Moitra made on October 3 and October 6 must be deleted within 24 hours of receiving the court order. The Trinamool Congress-Mamata Lok Sabha MP will be given a notice to explain why the court will not uphold the ban on her comments. The judge of the lower court also said that Moitra's posts not just criticised the SIR process but also accused the Chief Secretary of illegal acts as the then West Bengal CEO. However,, the court added that the Krishnanagar MP was unable to present any suitable evidence in the court to support such serious allegations. As a result, the court said that there were doubts about the legal basis of those allegations. The court added that everyone had the right to discuss or criticise the SIR in the scope of public interest but behind that criticism, defamatory comments against any government official were not acceptable at all. In that regard, as per the court's observation, Moitra's social media posts were objectionable and therefore she must delete the post within the next 24 hours. Moitra gave a reaction to the court order on social media. I will be filing a vacating application to reinforce my right to call a 'Vote Chor' a 'Vote Chor', the Trinamool Congres-Mamata Lok Sabha MP in a social media statement said while reacting to the court order.
22, 24 carat Gold prices remain steady across metro cities on October 4
UCO Bank sees 26.7% growth in net profit
Monsoon withdraws from Tripura with 17% rainfall deficit
Paint washed off Kolkata flyovers after skidding videos go viral
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation removed the rainbow-coloured paint from the Gariahat and Chingrighata flyovers after at least three motorbikes skidded on the surface; Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul said anti-skid paint had been used as part of a Durga Puja beautification drive
Kolkata High Court Denies Bail to Former Minister Indranil Sen in Money Laundering Case
The Kolkata High Court has rejected Indranil Sens bail plea amid an ongoing ED investigation into alleged money laundering activities. Kolkata High Court Denies Bail to Former Minister Indranil Sen in Money Laundering Case
