বাংলায় পড়ুন
Kolkata's Durga Puja festivities kicked off not on Ashtami, as one might expect, but even earlier, with the Mahalaya. Numerous Durga Puja pandals across the city are drawing large crowds. The captivating images of these bustling pandals have already gone viral on social media.
From the northern parts to the southern regions of the city, a consistent scene is unfolding in pandals of all sizes. A viral video showcases people eagerly queuing up, sprinting to reach the pandals a bit earlier.
This year, many pandals were inaugurated well before Mahalaya. The fervour commenced right from Mahalaya, leading to enormous gatherings at the pandals.
Typically, such massive crowds are associated with Shashthi onwards during Durga Puja. However, this time, the focus has shifted to the days of Mahalaya and Tritiya. People are seen forming lines outside pandals on Tritiya itself, eager to get a glimpse of the grand idols.
One prominent pandal in Shreebhumi has adopted a "Disneyland" theme, with a special visit from the famous Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho.
Even in the south, similar scenes are observed, despite some pandals still awaiting the arrival of the Durga idol. The enthusiasm in the crowd makes it hard to distinguish between Tritiya and Ashtami. Massive crowds are visible everywhere.
Another popular North Kolkata pandal, Santosh Mitra Square, is known for its massive gatherings each year. This year, it had the honor of being inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and pictures from the event depict the enthusiastic crowd.
In summary, this year's Durga Puja celebrations in the city have broken with tradition, with Mahalaya and Tritiya drawing huge crowds to the pandals. The enthusiasm and devotion of the people are evident everywhere, making it challenging to distinguish between the days of the festival.
