Kartik Ramanathan
Durga Puja - 2014
For five days a year, the eastern Indian metropolis of Kolkata takes on a Nocturnal flavor.
While the city celebrates a variety of "Pujos", none is Grander than the Durga Puja, which coincides with the second half of Navratri and culminates in the Grand Celebration of Vijaya Dashami - also know as Dusshera in other parts of the country.
Every locality, every sub locality organizes its on "Puja" , with its own uniquely themed "Pandals" and lightning arrangements.
The entire city comes alive in the evening with a festive atmosphere and millions of people hopping from "Pandal" to "Pandal" admiring the workmanship and design of each of these unique creations. People go "Pandal" hopping from early in the evening till early hours of the morning the following day with their friends and family, helping themselves to a myriad of street food along the way, which is also one of Kolkata's specialties.
Five days of festivities culminate in the Vijaya Dashami celebrations and immersion of the Durga idols in the holy Hooghly river.
Being in Kolkata during the Durga Puja is an experience bar none -- one which I have been lucky to witness countless time since my childhood days int he city.
This time, I headed home to capture some of that spirit through my camera and lenses.
Durga Puja - 2014
For five days a year, the eastern Indian metropolis of Kolkata takes on a Nocturnal flavor.
While the city celebrates a variety of "Pujos", none is Grander than the Durga Puja, which coincides with the second half of Navratri and culminates in the Grand Celebration of Vijaya Dashami - also know as Dusshera in other parts of the country.
Every locality, every sub locality organizes its on "Puja" , with its own uniquely themed "Pandals" and lightning arrangements.
The entire city comes alive in the evening with a festive atmosphere and millions of people hopping from "Pandal" to "Pandal" admiring the workmanship and design of each of these unique creations. People go "Pandal" hopping from early in the evening till early hours of the morning the following day with their friends and family, helping themselves to a myriad of street food along the way, which is also one of Kolkata's specialties.
Five days of festivities culminate in the Vijaya Dashami celebrations and immersion of the Durga idols in the holy Hooghly river.
Being in Kolkata during the Durga Puja is an experience bar none -- one which I have been lucky to witness countless time since my childhood days int he city.
This time, I headed home to capture some of that spirit through my camera and lenses.