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Beyond the typical: Kolkata’s Sarbojanin Nabadurga Durgotsab

In a city where Durga Puja ‘apparently’ means worshipping a grand idol of Goddess Durga along with her children, Garia Mitali Sangha stands apart. Every year, in a distinctive tradition spanning nearly seven decades, nine different forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped under the same roof.

Playing with colour and keeping up with culture

When my two boys were growing up in the suburbs of Virginia, near Washington DC, where both my husband and I worked, we decided that we did not want to deprive them of the joys of playing Holi on Dol Purnima.

Was Holi a bigger festival than Durga puja in 18th century Bengal?

Dolyatra, or Holi, is one of the biggest Hindu festivals in Bengal. The festival is not only a mere religious festival but also an event that influenced Bengal’s social, cultural and political chronology. Here are some little-known anecdotes about Bengal during this time.

Avoid greasy and dewy makeup for Holi, suggests expert

When it comes to reminiscing about the memories of Holi, apart from shedding tears to melt and manipulate our parents into getting the biggest possible pichkari (water gun), hunting for old clothes the day before was part and parcel of celebrating the festival of colours.