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Durga Puja @ Kolkata

The world's largest open air art festival

Durga Pujas in Kolkata have always been an extravagant show; larger-than-life, full of colors, mind-blowing artistry, magnificent wizardry of lights, 24Hrs x 5 days of fun, music and gaiety!
Since 2021 when "Durga Pujas in Kolkata" was added in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the World, granting it elite status among diverse cultural traditions from around the world, the frenzy of Pujo celebrations is at its peak...

West Bengal


Starts: From Kolkata

Ends: At Kolkata

Group size: 12-14

Group Type: All age and gender

Dates


Starts: 9 Oct' 2024

Ends: 13 Oct' 2024

Bookings Open.


Charges


₹ 57,600/-

About The Tour


Pujo in Kolkata is like a carnival that takes over the city! Imagine vibrant streets decked out in dazzling lights and ornate pandals that pop up like magical kingdoms overnight. Everywhere you turn, there's the tantalizing aroma of street food—think crispy kathi rolls and melt-in-your-mouth mishti! People from all walks of life come together, dressed in their festive best, ready to dance to the beats of dhak and sway with the rhythm of dhaaki naach. It's a whirlwind of color, culture, and camaraderie, where traditions blend seamlessly with modern-day excitement. Pujo in Kolkata isn't just a festival; it's a lively, unforgettable celebration that captures the heart and soul of the City of Joy!.

Trip highlights



pandal hopping

Pandal Hopping

Pandal hopping during Pujo is an exhilarating cultural experience where elaborate, artistically themed structures house idols of Goddess Durga. The city comes alive with lights, music, and vibrant decorations, as locals and tourists alike visit various pandals to admire their unique designs. Each pandal showcases creative expressions, often reflecting social themes or traditional art forms. This festive tradition captures the spirit of community and celebration, making it a highlight of Kolkata's cultural calendar.

Bonedi badi

Bonedi Bari

Bonedi Bari Durga Puja offers a glimpse into the city's aristocratic past, as age-old, opulent family homes (bonedi baris) celebrate the festival with traditional grandeur. These pujas are marked by elaborate rituals, age-old customs, and the unique charm of heritage architecture. Unlike the more commercial pandals, Bonedi Bari pujas retain a sense of intimacy and cultural authenticity. Visiting these ancestral homes during Durga Puja provides a rich cultural experience, steeped in history and tradition.

Kolabau Snan

Kolabau Snan

Kolabau Snan, a revered ritual during Durga Puja, involves the ceremonial bathing of the Nabapatrika, also known as Kolabau or the banana bride. This ritual symbolizes the invocation of Goddess Durga's presence in the plantain tree, which is adorned with a sari and vermilion. The Kolabau is taken to the river at dawn for a ritual bath, signifying purification and the beginning of the puja festivities. This age-old tradition highlights the deep connection between nature and spirituality in Bengali culture.

Duno Purono

Dhuno Purono

Dhuno Purano is a traditional ritual performed during Pujo, where married women offer prayers while holding burning incense (dhuno) in their hands. They perform this ritual in front of the Durga idol, often balancing the burning dhuno on a brass plate on their heads and hands. This act is believed to purify the surroundings and invoke the goddess's blessings. It is a visually striking and spiritually significant part of the Pujo celebrations, adding to the festival's vibrant atmosphere.

Bhog

Bhog

Bhog during Pujo is a sacred offering of food to the goddess, later distributed among devotees as prasad. This ritual involves preparing a variety of vegetarian dishes, including khichuri, labra (mixed vegetable curry), and sweets, with utmost devotion and purity. The bhog is first offered to Goddess Durga and then served to devotees, symbolizing communal harmony and divine blessings. Partaking in the bhog is considered highly auspicious, and it enhances the spiritual and festive experience of Durga Puja.

Sandhi puja

Sandhi Pujo

Sandhi Puja, a pivotal ritual during Pujo, marks the transition between Ashtami and Navami, the eighth and ninth days of the festival. This sacred ceremony is performed during the precise moment when Goddess Durga is believed to have vanquished the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The ritual involves lighting 108 lamps, offering 108 lotus flowers, and performing arati amidst the resonant sounds of dhak (traditional drums) and chants.

Dhunuchi

Dhunuchi Dance

Dhunuchi dance during Pujo is a mesmerizing ritual where devotees perform a traditional dance holding a smoking dhunuchi (earthen incense burner). This dance, accompanied by rhythmic beats of dhak drums, invokes a sense of fervor and devotion. The aromatic smoke from the dhunuchi is believed to purify the air and please the goddess. Dhunuchi dance adds a surreal and sensory dimension to the already electric festive atmosphere.


Sindoor Khela

Sindoor Khela

Sindoor Khela is a vibrant and joyous ritual performed on the last day of Pujo, known as Vijayadashami. Married women apply sindoor (vermilion powder) to the goddess's forehead and feet, and then smear it on each other, symbolizing the wish for marital bliss and longevity. This ritual marks the farewell to Goddess Durga as she returns to her celestial abode. Sindoor Khela, with its lively and colorful display, embodies the essence of unity, festivity, and the celebration of womanhood.

Durga visarjan

Durga Visarjan

Durga Visarjan, the immersion of Goddess Durga's idol, is a poignant and grand finale to Pujo. Held on Vijayadashami, the tenth day, devotees bid an emotional farewell to the goddess with processions filled with music, dance, and chants. The idols are carried to the river, symbolizing Durga's return to her divine realm, while prayers are offered for her swift return next year. This ritual marks the heartfelt emotions of parting, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of the devotees.

Food

Authentic Bengali Food

Kolkata made it to the “World’s Top 10 Food Destinations” in 2023 and while we are in the city, we won’t like to miss on any opportunity to feast on authentic Bengali food.! Food in Kolkata is a delightful blend of flavors and traditions, showcasing the region's rich culinary heritage. Signature dishes include aromatic fish curries like Macher Jhol, the iconic Shorshe Ilish (hilsa fish in mustard sauce), and hearty vegetarian preparations such as Shukto. Sweet delicacies like Rasgulla and Sandesh add a perfect end to the meal.

Colonial Calcutta

Colonial Calcutta

Kolkata, once the capital of British India, is steeped in history and architectural grandeur. The city boasts iconic colonial-era structures like the Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, and St. Paul's Cathedral, reflecting its imperial past. During the British Raj, Kolkata was a hub of trade, education, and culture, shaping much of its modern identity. While we will be very busy and awe-struck by the grandeur of Pujo celebrations, we will take out time to stroll around the Colonial monuments of the City of Joy!

Trip itinerary




Day 1: Arrive in Kolkata, Shashti Celebrations

Arrive in Kolkata by 12 pm.
- Orientation over lunch @ hotel.
- Walking explorations begin @ Central Kolkata’s iconic areas with a geographical and historical orientation.
- Durga Pujo storytelling, mythological and historical traditions in Bengal.
- First few pandal visits, few of the oldest pujos of Kolkata.
- Early retire, as we have early morning rituals to attend the next day.

Day 2: Saptami Celebrations

-Early morning first rituals of Maha-Shoptomi pujo, Kolabau Snan, in a nearly 170 yrs old ‘bari’ (traditional house) puja and at ghats of River Hooghly.
- Savouring traditional lunch ‘Bhog’ (prashad, vegetarian offerings to the Goddess)
- Afternoon siesta (there is a reason why !!)
- The ‘wild & crazy whole night’ pujo pandal hopping begins from 10pm lasting till 4am in the morning!

Day 3: Ashtami Celebrations

- Ashtami special puja and Sandhi pujo visits at 'Bonedi Bari’ pujos (old mansion pujos) in North Kolkata.
- Cultural evenings at the traditional 'Bonedi Bari' pujos are all about heart-thumping music on beats of which Dhunuchi Dances work up a celebratory frenzy that's unmatched anywhere in India!
- Special celebratory Durga Puja Bengali dinner

- It's our final 'whole night pujo pandal hopping'!!
Day 4: Navami and Dashmi Celebrations

- An early morning exploration of Colonial Calcutta's heritage, street food breakfast and photo walk.
- Visit few of top pandals of South Kolkata which boast of some of the finest art installations.
- Another exciting ritual of 'Dhuno Pudaano' and 'Kumari Puja'.
- Women commence the process with the ’Boron’ ritual, as the women wish traditional good-byes to the Goddess one of the oldest Bari/Mansion Pujo of Kolkata. Indulge in 'Sinduur Khela’ rituals at a 200+ yrs old mansion with its residents as pujo officially ends!!
- By evening we are at the Ganges ghats for 'Visarjan' (immersion of the idols in river)
- Bhog lunch and special end-of- puja dinner.

Day 5: Good Bye

- Goodbyes after breakfast and leave for your flights/trains back home.
- Trip ends at 10 am

Location details


Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal, India, is situated along the western bank of the Hooghly River, a distributary of the Ganges, which plays a significant role in the city's geography and economy.

Kolkata experiences a tropical wet and dry climate, also known as a tropical savanna climate.
In October, Kolkata experiences a transition period from the rainy monsoon season to the cooler winter months. Daytime temperatures typically range from around 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 90°F). Humidity levels begin to decrease as the monsoon withdraws, leading to more pleasant and drier conditions throughout the month. The weather in October is generally characterized by sunny days with occasional cloudy periods. Towards the end of the month, temperatures start to drop further as Kolkata transitions into the winter season.

Connections Game

Important Information

Cost

- INR 57,600/- on twin sharing basis.
- Rooms for single occupancy can be arranged for extra 9,500/- per person for 3 nights.
- Credit Cards payment will invite an extra charge of 4%

To make a booking, please send:
WhatsApp/ Call: +91 9810011955 / +91 9871181775
Email: teamthebrownticket@gmail.com

Inclusions

Accommodation on twin-sharing basis at
- Hotel Peerless Inn @ Kolkata
- All monuments entrance tickets for one visit to the monuments.
- Costs of all ground and water travel in Calcutta, using mix modes of transportation as part of our “Pujo in Kolkata Experience" itinerary given above.
- All arrangements of street foods, heritage/cultural walking tours and cultural performances as part of itinerary above.
- Services of Specialised English speaking walk facilitators

Exclusions

- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions.
- Transport to and from Kolkata airport/railway stations.
- Any expenditure of personal nature like specialized meals not mentioned above, tipping, alcoholic drinks, aerated soft drinks, laundry, telephone calls, travel for shopping expenses, room service @ hotel etc. ·
- Any sudden increase in price due to steep hike in fuel cost or for any reason beyond our control like ‘Act of God’, natural calamity, law and order situation, riots etc. and any forced change in itinerary for any unforeseen situations/reasons beyond our control..

General Info

- On all days, mythological and cultural significance of pujo rituals/traditional practices you experience will be explained by our team's experts.
- The above itinerary could see some adjustments based on ground realities including pujo crowds, timing of certain rituals and weather conditions. Although the design-flow of 5 days allows us to swap around and adjust the elements to complete the above itinerary as is envisaged.

Cancellation Policy

Each booking made and fully paid-up to us, is with the express and unambiguous understanding that you accept the below-mentioned cancellation policy. Cancellation over email to teamthebrownticket@gmail.com will be accepted as per following datelines.
- Less than 1 month before – NO REFUND
- 1 month before the trip date – 50% REFUND

Terms & Conditions

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