Members of Bengali community gear up to celebrate Durga Puja

As autumn settles over Ludhiana, the city’s Bengali community prepares to transform its corners into pockets of devotion and celebration. With Durga Puja starting tomorrow, the air is already thick with the scent of incense, the rhythmic beats of the dhak, and the unmistakable sweet aromas of sandesh and mishti doi wafting from local kitchens.

This year’s Durga Puja, beginning on Panchami (September 27) and culminating on Dashami (October 2), promises to be a cultural mosaic. To preserve the authenticity of the rituals, organisers have once again invited idol makers, priests, cooks and dhakis from West Bengal.

The idol, crafted over two months by artisans from Kolkata, will be the centrepiece of the pandal, where morning and evening pujas will be followed by bhog prasadam—steaming khichudi, luchi and a medley of sweets, including rosogulla, chomchom and the ever-loved mishti doi.

“This festival is our emotional anchor,” says A Ghosh, who has lived in the city for 30 years. “Even though we’re far from Bengal, we recreate the same spirit here. It’s not just for Bengalis—locals and students from across India join us, making it a truly inclusive celebration.”

Cultural evenings will feature Rabindra Sangeet, traditional dance forms and performances by artistes from both Bengal and Punjab. The women of the community are already busy preparing alpona (rangoli) and organising the Anondo Mela—a fair of homemade Bengali delicacies like patishapta, narkel naru and kheer kodom.

“We may be miles away from Kolkata, but our kitchens and hearts recreate the same warmth,” says Rita Basu, who has been part of the organising committee for over a decade.

On Saptami, the ritual of ‘kala bou snaan’ will be performed, symbolising the arrival of Maa Durga. And on Vijayadashami, the city will witness a grand procession leading to the Sutlej River for the immersion ceremony—a moment of bittersweet farewell.

One of the most emotional moments of the festival is the Sindoor Khela on Dashami, where married women smear vermilion on each other in a ritual that celebrates feminine strength and the bittersweet farewell to Maa Durga. “It’s not just a ritual—it’s a celebration of sisterhood,” says Basu. “We laugh, we cry and we promise to meet again next year with the same joy.”

“Durga Puja is not just a festival—it’s a feeling,” says Asis Kumar Roy. “It’s the time when we return to our roots, share joy and pass on traditions to the next generation.”

In Ludhiana, Durga Puja is more than a festival. It’s a homecoming, a cultural bridge and a celebration of identity. For five days, the city becomes a canvas of joy, where every beat of the dhak and every bite of mishti doi tells a story of belonging.