Festive fever reaches peak on Maha Ashtami-Maha Navami
Oct 02, 2014, at 07:05 pm
The festive spirit in Kolkata reached its peak on Thursday,(Oct 2, 2014) as the Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami celebrations of the Durga Puja commenced on the same day. The day began amid the pious 'pushpanjali' (prayers with flowers), where thousands of devotees offer their prayers to the Goddess in empty stomach at various marquees (puja pandal) across the state. Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Festive fever grips Kolkata on Mahasaptami evening
Oct 02, 2014, at 06:54 pm
Kolkata on Wednesday (Oct 1, 2014) joined the mood of festivity as large number of people visited pandals across the city to pay homage to Goddess Durga on the seventh day of the festival, known as 'Mahasaptami'. Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Oct 01, 2014, at 06:23 pm
As Kolkata celebrates its annual Durga Puja festival, IBNS selects some of the best Durga idols and pandals from across the 'City of Joy'. Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Kolkata soaks in Mahasaptami fervor
Oct 01, 2014, at 05:51 pm
The festive spirit, joy and enthusiasm of the Bengali community in Kolkata received an extra fillip on Wednesday on the Mahasaptami day as people upped their celebratory mood to a great deal. On Mahasaptami, some important rituals of the puja are performed with 'Nabapatrika snan' or 'Kolabou snan' (bathing of banana bride) and 'pravesh' (entrance of Goddess in the mandap-the place of worship) at dawn. The stem of a banana plant is bathed and draped in a red and white saree that make it look like a newly wed bride and then placed beside Lord Ganesha as 'Kalabou' is considered to be his wife according to Hindu mythology. IBNS images of the ritual and pandal hopping since morning. Images by Avishek Mitra
Oct 01, 2014, at 05:04 pm
Bollywood actress Rani Mukherji is celebrating Durga Puja in Mumbai.