Bengali Durgotsava is one of the most important and famous festivals in this century-old city of Kolkata. Durga puja of the city of Kolkata are steeped in history and tradition. Here we will highlight 10 ancient Durga Pujas that are similarly traditional.

1. Savarna Roychowdhury Family’s Durga Puja

It is Considered the oldest Durga Puja in Kolkata, and the zamindar Shri Lakshmi Kant Majumdar started the Puja in 1610 by making the first Atchala Durga idol. The influence of Shakti-Saivism and Vaishnavism can be seen in the worship rituals and idols. This is why the Mahishasura demon’s skin colour is seen as green. The uniqueness of the idol is that it is seen here in a three-part animation featuring images of Dasamahavidya, the ten different images of Mother Shakti. An idol of Lord Shiva is placed on one side of the deity and an idol of Lord Rama on the other side is to be worshipped along with Mother Durga.

2. Shobhabazar Rajbari Durga Puja

Raja Nabakrishna Dev of Shobhabazar Rajbari celebrated Durga Puja for the first time in 1757. Robert Clive was invited by Nabakrishna Dev as the chief guest in this puja and Clive was present in this puja. Here in Ekchala, the traditional form of Dashabhuja is worshipped according to ancient customs. Here non-Hindus get to see a typical Hindu family function for the first time from the ‘Nach Ghor’ or dance hall located on the outer side of the Rajbari.

3. Laha Bari Durgotsava

This Vaishnava family considers the slaughter of Mahisasura non-violent hence a calmer form of Maa Durga is seen here. There is disagreement among scholars on how old this puja is, some say that Lord Prana Krishna Laha first performed this puja about 170 years ago, while others say that Prana Krishna’s father Sri Rajivalochana Laha started it about 200 years ago.

4. Mallik Bari Durga Festival

The Mallik family of Bhavanipur mainly followed the Vaishnava religion. Since the time of Nawab Hussain Shah around the 15th century AD, they have been worshipping Goddess Durga in a single form. So, this is another ancient Durga Puja of Kolkata. As they follow the Vaishnava religion, they take vegetarian food during the five days of the puja.

5. Durga Puja at Bholanath Dham, Bedon Street

The Duttas of Bholanath Dham in North Calcutta has been worshipping Shiva-Durga, not Dashabhuja, since 1905. One of the features of this puja is that Mother Durga is worshipped here along with her husband Shiva as a deity.

6. Bagbazar Haldarbari Durga Puja

This is another oldest and historically significant Durga Puja in Kolkata. The Durga idol of Haldarbari has been worshiped daily for the past 447 years. It is made of sandstone and the idol is about 600 to 700 years old. Some historians claim that it was sculpted during the Pala period of Bengal. Kumari Puja is one of the main attractions of Haldarbari Durga Puja.

7. Bhowanipur, De Bari Durga Puja

Bhavanipur De Bari is one of the oldest pujas in Kolkata, started in 1870. One of the special features of this puja is that Mahisasur wears a coat and a pair of pants like the British soldiers. It is believed to have been first built as a protest against the British. That tradition is still going on.

8. Badan Chandra Roy Family Durga Puja

Badan Chandra Roy Family’s Durga Puja at Kolutola is about 160 years old. This family also follows Vaishnavism. So here on Ashtami day fruit is sacrificed instead of animal sacrifice. Because Vaishnavas are against violence.

9. Bhukailash Rajbari Durgotsava

Maharaja Jai ​​Narayan Ghoshal started this Durga Puja about 300 years ago at Bhukailash Rajbari, which is now within the Khidirpur region. Mahishasuramardini i.e. Durga idol is made of Ashtadhatu or eight metals and the Goddess rides on a traditional horse-shaped lion.

10. Durga Puja of Shivakrishna Da family

Shivakrishna Da’s father Shri Gokul Chandra Da started the Durga Puja of the Jorasankor Da family in 1840. The worship of the idol of “Devi Durga’, adorned with gold and silver ornaments, in the well-decorated Thakurdalan is one of the features of this house.