Durga Puja is around the corner and pandal hopping is one of the favorite activities that all Bengalis look forward to. One must visit the pandal and experience the larger than life, mesmerizing idol of the goddess and the vibrant decorations to really get into the festive atmosphere of the season. Durga Puja pandals usually have huge gatherings of friends and families and there are many food stalls. While people may have already shopped for ‘pujo’, here is a list of pandals in Delhi-NCR, which are a must during Durga Puja.
1. Kashmere Gate, Delhi
One of the most distinctive places to witness the grand celebrations of Durga Puja is the annual pandal set up at the Kashmere Gate. It began somewhere around 1910 as a community worship during the festival, making it over 100 years old. People can enjoy traditional rituals and mouth-watering bhog here. The pandal is set up quite close to the Kashmere Gate metro station, so it is easy to locate.
2. Greater Kailash, Delhi
Greater Kailash welcomes most of the Bengali people to Durgotsav. It is one of the most distinctive crowds that come together to celebrate the festival. Not only this, the pandal also attracts many tourists living around Delhi-NCR. The best thing about celebrating Durga Puja 2022 here is that the prasad is made of all organic ingredients. One must visit this pandal on Ashtami or Navami.
3. CR Park, Delhi
Chittaranjan Park is one of the poshest residential areas of Delhi-NCR, known for hosting some of the best Durga Puja pandals, as it is also home to a large number of Bengalis. The festivities go on all night during the days of worship. Apart from the large idols of Goddess Durga with her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesha, one can also enjoy the Dhunuchi Naach, a traditional dance performed during Durga Aarti.
4. Noida Kalibari
Noida Bengali Culture Association is all set to organize its 40th Durga Puja celebrations at Kalibari in Sector 26. The campus will open for Anandomela on 30 September. The pandal will mimic Belur Math. The Shradh Samman awards will be given this year in recognition of the efforts of the worship committees in the city. Prizes will be awarded to the best idols, pandals and decorations.
5. Gaur City
Gaur City Bengali Cultural Association will organize the function at Dada-Dadi Park in Gaur City 1, Greater Noida West. The pandal will be a replica of the Kedarnath temple designed by the craftsmen of Kolkata. It will be 45 feet high, mostly made of bamboo, making the idol of Goddess Durga 12 feet high.
6. Shipra Sun City
Bongotoru Durga Puja, in its 22nd year, will depict nine incarnations of the goddess for the first time in Delhi-NCR. The theme of the pandal is ‘Chhau’, a more than 500-year-old traditional dance form that has got the heritage tag from UNESCO. More than 20 artisans from Medinipur in West Bengal are currently building the 40 feet high pavilion.
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