Durga Puja Pandal Hopping 2017

 

DURGA PUJA PANDAL HOPPING 2017

Goddess Durga represents feminine energy and strength. As a portrayal of the divine mother, she protects all against the distress. As per the legend, she killed demon Mahishasura and signifies victory of good over evil. Representing the power she has ten arms with weapon and lotus flower, she rides a lion.

The worshipping of the goddess is done in community areas called as “Pandals”. The Pandals are decorated in various innovative themes. Since there are many Pandals created for the various Pujas, visiting them one by one is also referred to as the “Pandal Hopping”!

Navratri is nine nights festival in India and celebrated across. Durga Puja is celebrated all over but it’s grandest in West Bengal State. During the Durga Puja City of Kolkata has around 1000 such Pandals created.

I have attended recently this festival in New Delhi in a place called as ‘CHITARRANJAN PARK ‘. This area has Bengali community residents and hence this place is also called as mini Bengal in Delhi.

The puja is done by senior pujaris (priests), who know the exact procedure to worship the Goddess. The rituals go with deeper logic and set religious schemes in Navratri. If one has more interest they can understand the daily meaning of various Pujas done and it is really very touching and interesting. It is also interesting to note that the puja is not confined to only one community or “Pandal” but every lane and colony have their own Pujas.

The larger ones are more famous and crowded while the smaller one gives you chance to participate in more personal level and contribute to the rituals closely.

This year in 2017, like a true traveler I have done Pandal Hopping and seen most of the major Pujas at CR Park right from the idol-making to the tenth day of Dashmi or Sindoor Khela when all these idols are immersed in water.

Below are my pictures for you from various Pandals form the year 2017 Puja Pandal Hopping –

 

The Kali Mandir CR Park

Kali Mandir is one of the most prominent temples in CR Park area. This is the area with old temples dedicated to Goddess Kali and behind this area is where all the idol-making takes place. Here’s the Puja this year at the Kali Mandir

The Mela Ground Puja

One of the biggest Pandals is the Mela ground also one of my favorite Puja. The way it is organized and the uniqueness of the idol each year is one of the reasons why it is really a must visit Puja Pandal. Below is the idol of Goddess here in yellow attire.

 

The I block and E block Puja

Another puja from the colony in the I Block few blocks away from previous one.

The D Block Puja

It is towards the interior of the D Block colony this is a more private form of Puja but one can participate in various rituals personally here.

 

 

 

The J Block Puja

This one again a larger scale Puja in CR Park, also has bagged many prizes in the past. Yes, the Pandals do have a competition where a winner is declared basis the most outstanding and biggest Pandal

The GK2 Puja

A relatively bigger Puja, below are the pictures.

Near to CR Park is an area called as GK2 and they have amazing Puja from the Ramakrishna Mission trust and below is the Puja.

 

The Maitri Mandir Puja

This Puja is organized in South Delhi Safdarjung but this is not in CR Park.

It is interesting to note here because this year the Pandals were prepared with the theme to celebrate the womanhood and hence all the famous women heroes of India in any field were highlighted here signifying the feminine power in a different way.

In the end on the tenth day of Bijoya Dashmi, the idols are immersed in water to signify bidding adieu to the Goddess as she blesses us all and goes back.

 

Do leave your comments below on which Pandal Puja you liked the most and did you enjoy this virtual “Pandal Hopping”.

15 thoughts on “Durga Puja Pandal Hopping 2017

  1. Alex

    Wow the models look so detailed – what wonderful photos. I love that this year the pandals had the theme to celebrate strong women!

    • Travel Quartz Post author

      Glad you liked the Durga Puja Pandal Hopping virtually through this post! the idols were so detailed and theme based it just amazes me that so much passion goes in this festival and how awesome this is 🙂

  2. lexieanimetravel

    I love the history of the Goddess Durga, I love to know that she represents the feminine energy and strength. I think I would prefer Mela Ground Puja also she looks really huge and charming.

    • Travel Quartz Post author

      So glad that you can relate to Indian mythology and religion 🙂 The story of Goddess Durga is inspiring as she killed the demon Mahishasura. this victory is celebrated in this festival. you can read more about this story online. Glad you joined me in this pandal hopping and even I love mela Ground Puja the most because the statue is really charming and amazing there relates to the image of powerful Goddess and Mother (Ma)

  3. Helene

    Always in favour of celebrating women and feminine power!:) Looks like a fun festival! I’m always impressed by all the artwork displayed.

    • Travel Quartz Post author

      Glad you liked this post 🙂 Its so cool that Durga Puja is a lot about celebrating feminine power! the artwork amazes me too so much talent 🙂

  4. Aditi

    I’ve been around the pandals in Delhi. There was a fete and food street where I went crazy eating that I could. Navratri is quite the season for festivities <3 Cheers!!

    • Travel Quartz Post author

      Glad we share so many common destinations, I hope to visit there again and try out few dishes I left this time. You know this time I was told that Ramlila in red Fort has amazing food stalls, it was crowded but one of the yummiest veg food stalls I ever had!!

  5. Tyra

    Wooow I enjoyed Pandal hopping!!! My favorite was the J block Puja. The man’s reaction to her is quite fitting for how powerful she is meant to be!

    • Travel Quartz Post author

      J block Puja has been special every year they have few times won the best Puja Award too, glad you could join me in this Pandal Hopping and enjoyed. Durga Ma (Mother) is powerful Goddess indeed 🙂

  6. Michael

    There are some wonderful models there. Your pictures look great. I wish I could be there, drinking in the atmosphere.

    • Travel Quartz Post author

      Glad you liked the Puja Hopping Pictures, so they built all the idols with so many efforts and they were worshipped in these Pandals, it was very festive and full of such awesome dance music and celebrations.

  7. DTG

    So interesting to read and learn more about other countries cultural events and festival and religions, once again great photos and information, really enjoyed reading this post

  8. Pingback: Navratri – Nine Nights – Festival of India! - Travel quartz

Comments are closed.