10 Durga Pujas of Kolkata that still show you a glimpse of how it was done in the good old days

Address: Kailash Bose Street

Nearest metro: MG Road

The idol of the goddess here is quite different from the conventional ones. Durga sits on the lap Shiva giving the Hara-Gouri form. There is no vahana or the asura with the idol.

This puja is more than 250 years old. The original idol was made of eight metals.

(Image: Facebook)

Address: Pathuriaghata Street


Nearest metro station: Girish Park

This one is definitely one of the oldest pujas in Kolkata. The Durga Puja here is happening for last 200 years here. While not much historical details is found, it is said that Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped as Kamala and Kamini respectively.

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Address: Neemtala Ghat Street

Nearest metro station: Sovabazar Sutanuti

Housed in North Kolkata, near the ganges, Durga Puja is held in this ancestral house of the Datta Family since 1794. Going by the history the puja is 222 years old. This Pujo was initiated by the founder of the Hathkhola Dutta family Shri Jagatram Dutta, a descendant of Late Purushottam Dutta and Gobindasaran Dutta. Moreover, the family says they don’t sacrifice animal. Instead an idol made of sweets is sacrificed in front of the goddess on Sandhi Puja (an early morning offering to god during 8th day).

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Address: behind Raja Bazar Science College

Nearest metro station: Shyambazar

Started in 1722 by Harinath Mookerjee this puja is one of the oldest of the lot. Mookherjee was jute supplier for East India Company. He was also an architect. The Thakurdalan or the courtyard here has a Ganesh idol on the arc. The goddess Durga is worshipped here as a daughter and not a mother.

(Image: 'Chobiwala' Facebook)

Address: Vivekananda Road

Nearest metro: Shyambazar

This puja was started in 1840. Since then the Nabapatrika Snan , a ritual where a banana plant is taken to the Ganges for bath is carried under a gold umbrella. This umbrella is here since the inception of the puja.

(Image: Pinterest)

Address: Beadon Road

Nearest metro station: Girish Park

The palatial building of Mitras came into existence during the times of Durgacharan Mitra who had several business including being court jeweller of Nawab Siraj -ud -Daulah. His Nephew Nilmani Mitra continued the legacy. Later the family’s condition declined. But Nilmani Mitra’s grandson Radhakrishna bought back fortune in the family. It was Radhakrishna who started Durga Puja in 1807. The goddess here sits on a throne and interestingly before the immersion on Dashami, each woman of the family take turns to sit on the throne to imbibe power of Durga.

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Address: Beadon Road

Nearest metro station: Girish Park

Founded by Ramdulal Deb, this puja is entering its 216th year this time. The sons of Ramdulal Deb, Ashutosh and Pramatha, affectionately called Chhatu and Latu, have given prominence to the puja. Here the sacrifices are done with sugarcane and pumpkins. You need to visit this on Nabami or the 9th day of the puja to feast on homemade sweets like ladycany and darbesh.

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Address: Bhowanipur

Nearest metro station: Jatin Das Park

While in most cases the Brahmins have initiated Durga Puja, this one is unique because Mallicks weren’t Brahmins. Started in the 15th Century, here instead of rice a variety of food is offered. On the day of immersion, the eldest member of the family distributes bhang among visitors.

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Address: Radhanath Mullick Lane

Nearest metro: College Street

Radhanath Mullick began this puja in 1831. What attracts hundreds of visitors during the puja is the thakurdalan or the open courtyard which is painted in blue and yellow with a glass top, unlike open ones in most places. The lion with the goddess is made differently here with the body of a horse and the face of a dragon. This is majorly inspired from mythological texts like Chandimangal.

(Image: Flickr)