Devotion, artistry to mark start of Durga Puja festivities today

The city is set aglow as Durga Puja festivities begin tomorrow, transforming Delhi into a vibrant canvas of devotion, artistry and celebration.

Across neighbourhoods, puja committees are giving finishing touches to pandals that promise to draw lakhs of visitors over the coming days.

Though Kolkata remains the heart of Durga Puja, the festival has carved out a distinctive presence in the Capital, with celebrations blending tradition with innovation. From the century-old Kashmere Gate puja to the bustling pandals of Chittaranjan Park, Greater Kailash and the grand spectacles at Arambagh, Mayur Vihar and several other areas in the city, Delhi offers its own flavour of the much-loved festival.

Heritage reigns supreme at Kashmere Gate

At the city’s oldest Durga Puja, the Kashmere Gate pandal, heritage reigns supreme. First held in 1910, this puja has withstood partition riots, pandemics and shifting venues, but never missed a year. “The essence has always been about family and unity,” said Monish Mukherjee, general secretary of the committee. “Maa Durga symbolises a united family, reminding us that together we can defeat any evil.” Notable visitors through the decades have included Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Indira Gandhi. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, the puja continued with symbolic rituals, keeping alive a tradition now embedded in the city’s cultural memory.

Milestone year at Chittaranjan Park

The Bengali hub of Chittaranjan Park is preparing for a milestone year. Its Cooperative Ground Durga Puja Samiti marks its 50th anniversary with a theme inspired by the golden Jaisalmer Fort, immortalised in Satyajit Ray’s Sonar Kella. “The fort, deeply connected to Bengal through Ray’s film, felt like the perfect symbol for our jubilee,” said secretary Vivek Bhattacharjee. Visitors will encounter intricate recreations of Rajasthan’s architectural grandeur, a striking reminder of how Delhi’s pandals often blend Bengal’s devotion with pan-Indian artistry.

Arambagh’s theatrical twist

In Paharganj, the Arambagh Durga Puja Samiti adds a theatrical twist to its celebrations. Partnering with Circle Theatre, it will stage “The Journey Began” with Shri Chaitanya, a Jatra Pala that revives Bengal’s open-air opera tradition. “This is an effort to balance heritage with celebration,” explained Samiti president Indranil Sarkar. “For many, it will be their first introduction to Jatra. For others, it will be a revival of evenings spent under open skies, absorbed in stories of faith and courage.” Beyond theatre, the pandal brims with activity - dhakis set the beat, artisans Pankaj Dev and Shubatro Sanyal’s elaborate décor frames the idol and food stalls serve everything from luchi-mangsho to rosogolla. Families flock not just for rituals but for a fair-like atmosphere that has made Arambagh one of NCR’s most-visited Puja destinations.

A festival for all

Across Delhi, Durga Puja remains more than worship. It is a living cultural bridge. From the authenticity of Kashmere Gate to the nostalgia of CR Park and the spectacle of Arambagh, the city’s celebrations bring Bengalis and non-Bengalis together in a shared spirit of joy. As pandals open their gates tomorrow, the Capital readies for five days of devotion, theatre, music and community —an experience that is at once deeply rooted in tradition and joyously modern.