PART 1

Durga Puja in West Bengal and Assam

All rights reserved by the author
19 October 2026

For a few days each year, familiar streets in West Bengal undergo an astonishing transformation. Bamboo frameworks rise, fabric and lights reshape neighbourhoods, and ordinary road junctions become gateways into imagined worlds. A visitor may pass a traditional temple one moment and find, around the next corner, a pandal inspired by a royal palace, a village courtyard, an ancient monument or a work of contemporary art.

These temporary structures are among Durga Puja’s great attractions. Their designs demand imagination, engineering, painting, lighting and painstaking craftsmanship. Some celebrate regional architecture; others explore nature, folk traditions or social concerns. Behind the spectacle stand teams of artisans, electricians, carpenters, volunteers and organisers whose months of work often receive only a few days of public attention.

In Assam, too, communities come together around Durga Puja. From Guwahati’s lively neighbourhood celebrations to smaller towns and localities, pandals become meeting places where families, friends and visitors share the festive atmosphere. The forms differ from place to place, but the pleasure of gathering is widely understood.

At the heart of the traditional story is Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura, representing the triumph of good over destructive forces. In Bengal, the festival also carries the affectionate idea of a daughter returning to her parental home.

Yet its public life reaches beyond any one household or belief. People come to admire the artistry, enjoy the music, meet neighbours and share food.

For a brief season, the streets belong to everyone who wishes to celebrate together.

To be continued…

#DurgaPuja #WestBengal #Assam #RajatChandraSarmah

Rajat Chandra Sarmah, Guwahati, Assam, India, Instagram @rajatchandrasarmah, YouTube: conversewithasmile, email rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.com