Durga Puja is much more than a religious festival. It is a celebration of culture, art, creativity and community, bringing Kolkata alive with colour, music, food and festivity. And the joy is not limited to Bengalis. People from different backgrounds come together to celebrate Maa Durga’s homecoming, explore the city’s elaborate pandals, savour festive treats and soak in the unmistakable Pujo spirit. From the excitement of pandal hopping to the awe of witnessing intricate installations, Instagram reels by content creators offer a glimpse into how Kolkata is celebrating the festival.
Lights, food and pandal hopping: Pujo in a nutshell
Content creator Kiran Mazumder shared a mini reel capturing some of the quintessential Pujo experiences — walking beneath dazzling canopies of lights, digging into delicious street food and hopping from one pandal to another. After all, what is Durga Puja without the illuminated streets, irresistible food and the thrill of discovering a new pandal around every corner?
Kolkata turns into an open-air art gallery
For content creator Shubhomoy Das, the festival is also a grand celebration of art. His reels offer glimpses of different pandals across Kolkata and its surrounding regions, showcasing a variety of themes, artistic styles and creative interpretations.
Long queues, crowded streets and a glimpse of Maa
Digital creator Souradeep Dalal turns his lens towards another familiar part of the Pujo experience — the long queues and crowds outside popular pandals. While waiting for a glimpse of the Goddess can test anyone’s patience, his video captures the excitement of finally reaching the pandal and taking in the spectacle.
Every pandal has a story to tell
Adriza Samanta’s reel highlights why pandal hopping is about more than simply visiting as many pandals as possible. Behind every elaborate theme lies hours of planning, craftsmanship and hard work by artists, designers and organisers. Her video captures the spirit of slowing down to appreciate these creative efforts, reminding viewers that every installation has a story to tell and deserves more than a fleeting glance.
Rain or shine, Kolkata is out pandal hopping
Meanwhile, content creator Neha Shaw showed that even the rain could not dampen Kolkata’s festive enthusiasm. Her reel captures the spirit of pandal hoppers who ventured out on Saturday evening despite the rainfall, determined to make the most of the celebrations.