Bengali festival
Durga Puja — দুর্গা পূজা
durgā pūjā
September–October · five days
Durga Puja is Bengal's largest festival — five days of art, devotion and feasting. Thousands of pandals (temporary pavilions) feature elaborate clay idols of Goddess Durga slaying the demon Mahishasura. Streets erupt in dhak drumming, lights, and food stalls.
Greetings in Bengali
শুভ দুর্গা পূজা
shubho durgā pūjā
"Happy Durga Puja!"
universal
শুভ মহালয়া
shubho môhalôya
"Happy Mahalaya"
the dawn before
শুভ বিজয়া
shubho bijôya
"Happy Vijaya"
tenth day, after immersion
Customs & traditions
- ✦Mahalaya pre-dawn radio recital of Chandi Path
- ✦Pandal hopping across neighbourhoods
- ✦Sindoor khela on Dashami — women smear vermilion on Durga and each other
- ✦Bisarjan — immersion of idols in the river
Traditional foods
খিচুড়ি
khichuṛi
Spiced rice-lentil porridge — pandal lunch
রসগোল্লা
rôsogolla
Bengal's signature syrupy cheese sweet
মিষ্টি দই
miṣṭi dôi
Sweet yogurt
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