Kolkata during the Durga Puja festival

€950 per person

Photo-tour of Kolkata (Calcutta) during the festivities of Durga Puja, the biggest festival of West Bengal. Visit of the ephemeral temples (pandals) as well as the Bonedis, the old aristocratic houses of the city.

The Durga Puja Festival or Durgotsava is the largest festival of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). On this occasion, the city is up all night, bathed in lights and embellished with temporary temples all vying to be the most inventive and creative. Durga-Puja is not only a religious festival; its social and cultural sides are important too. All social classes join in equally with the celebrations.

As with most festivals in India, the origins of Durga Puja lie in Hindu mythology. The demon king Mahishasura had become invincible thanks to a favour granted him by Lord Shiva, no male could defeat him. He is also called Mahishasuramardini (the killer of Mahishasura). To put an end to the terror he was causing, the gods pooled all their powers and gave birth to Shakti (the primordial force) in the form of the goddess Durga who, not being male, was able to defeat and kill Mahishasura.The battle symbolises the victory of good over evil and light over darkness.

The ‘Durga-Puja’ festival lasts for five days and is also known as Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami.

During this tour, we will visit the ‘Bonedis’, the old aristocratic houses of Kolkata where we will attend the ceremony of ‘Bodhon’, which symbolically brings the Durga statue to life and marks the start of the festival and the ritual of ‘Boron’. It is the farewell ceremony of Durga (the close of the festival). Between these two times, we will visit many different places of interest within the city as well as many ‘pandals’, the splendid ephemeral temples, which mark out the city during all the festival.

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In late afternoon, we will take you to one of Kolkata's 'bonedis' to attend the ceremony of 'Bodhon' or 'Akaal Bodhan', which gives life to the statue and marks the beginning of the rituals dedicated to the goddess Durga. A unique moment in the sumptuous old aristocratic houses. Overnight in Kolkata.

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