ceremony

ceremony

Men of Oriya community perform Tarpana at Gorakhnath temple in Delhi The festival of Durga Puja starts with Mahalaya, the first phase of the waxing moon in Aswin.

ceremony

The festival of Durga Puja starts with Mahalaya, the first phase of the waxing moon in Aswin.

ceremony

The festival of Durga Puja starts with Mahalaya, the first phase of the waxing moon in Aswin.

ceremony

After filling the Kalash with water these men move towards the bel tree for further rituals before taking the Kalash as well the tree to the pandal.

ceremony

After filling the Kalash with water these men move towards the bel tree for further rituals before taking the Kalash as well the tree to the pandal.

ceremony

After filling the Kalash with water these men move towards the bel tree for further rituals before taking the Kalash as well the tree to the pandal.

festival · ceremony

Men return to the Durga puja pandal after completing the Kalash Yatra. On arrival, their feet are washed with turmeric-infused water and from there they walk towards the idol to place the Kalash.

ceremony

Mahashashthi - On this day Goddess Durga arrives to the mortal world from her heavenly abode, accompanied by her children. She is welcomed with much fanfare amidst the beats of traditional drums.

ceremony

Preparations for traditional Durga Puja celebrations begin months before the actual puja. Delhi too has its share of grand Durga Puja Celebration, which can be experienced at various venues.

ceremony

Preparations for traditional Durga Puja celebrations begin months before the actual puja. Delhi too has its share of grand Durga Puja Celebration, which can be experienced at various venues.

ceremony

Mahashashthi - On this day Goddess Durga arrives to the mortal world from her heavenly abode, accompanied by her children. She is welcomed with much fanfare amidst the beats of traditional drums.

ceremony

Idols being prepared in full gusto for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations in Delhi. It is a grand festival for most parts of North and East India, but the most fanatically followed in West Bengal.

ceremony

Devotees at Matri Mandir in Safdarjung Enclave stand in long queues to feast on the Durga Puja bhog.

ceremony

A good looking Bengali girl tells us why Bengalis eat non-veg during Durga Puja especially when most of India is a vegetarian during Navratri: "Because we love non-veg and its Durga Puja so its a celebration for us.

ceremony

Preparations for traditional Durga Puja celebrations begin months before the actual puja. Delhi too has its share of grand Durga Puja Celebration, which can be experienced at various venues.

politics · ceremony

Together the Bengali community of C.R. Park gave up the ritual where idols were taken to the Yamuna as part of a procession and immersed there.

ceremony · festival

As seen Bengalis and non-Bengalis alike enjoy the delicious food available at food stalls in Mela Ground, C.R. Park. But nothing beats the long line for the delicious Navami bhog.

ceremony · flowers

Bengali woman also a committee member of the C.R. Park Mela Ground Durga Puja committee distributes marigold flowers along with belpatra (Aegle Marmelos leaves) for pushpanjali on Ashtami.

ceremony

Bengali and non-Bengalis alike eat Durga Puja bhog together in C.R. Park's Mela Ground. Feasting forms an inevitable part of the Durga Puja celebrations, from Mutton Chops to ghugnis and Mughlai Parantha.

ceremony

Mahanavami is the third of the four days which comprises Durga Puja for most. Here the priest can be seen conducting aarti amidst the beats of dhak and the smoke from the dhunuchi fills the air with positivity.

ceremony

Of all the Ashtamis, Durga Ashtami also known as Maha Ashtami is the most auspicious and providential one. Durga is the chief deity or Shakti as per the philosophy of Shaktism and manifests in her ten forms known as Mahavidyas.

ceremony

This age-old tradition has now adapted to new practices. Earlier only married Bengali Hindu women played Sindoor Khela but now this tradition sees participation from not just the married but single women from different ethnicities.

ceremony

Women distribute dadhi karma among devotees on the last day of Durga Puja where married women are standing in a long queue waiting to apply goddesses’ feet.