Ashtami In Kolkata: Pandal-hoppers, Kumari puja, and festive fervour spreads across the city

Puja festivities gained momentum on Ashtami, as pandal-hoppers explored the City of Joy, visiting pandals, spending time with loved ones and indulging in mouth-watering food. The mood was jubilant all through the day. Here's a look…

Belur Math in Howrah, the headquarters of Ramkrishna Math and Mission, celebrated Ashtami by performing Kumari puja on Monday morning. Here, one of the mission’s monks puts a garland on a young girl as part of the rituals. 

A reveller shoots balloons at a fair held at a south Kolkata puja pandal grounds. 

Devotees light 108 lanterns in observance of an Ashtami ritual at Kalighat’s Shibmanir Sarbojonin Puja pandal.

Pandal-hoppers dig into delicious food near a puja pandal, savouring the festive flavours and enjoying a quick break between pandal visits.

Devotees gather at College Square’s iconic puja. The crowd clicked pictures and offered prayers to the goddess. 

People crowd the Chetla Agrani pandal on Monday morning. This year, the club presented the theme of Dussehra by installing a huge Ravana effigy.