The Bengali community of Visakhapatnam celebrates Durga Puja with rituals, bhog and cultural programmes

Devotees offering prayers in front of idols of Goddess Durga on the second day of Maha Saptami during the Durga Puja celebrations organized by the Bengal Association at One City in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. | Photo credit: PAUL NICODEMUS

Bengali families across Visakhapatnam celebrate Durga Puja with rituals, bhog and cultural programmes, with each association keeping its own history alive.

Durga Puja began as a private affair in the homes of zamindar families in early Calcutta before evolving into a community festival or “Sarbojanin puja” in the early 20th century. Wherever several Bengali families gather, a festival ensues.

Bengali professionals moved to Visakhapatnam in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to work in ports, harbor construction and the Bengal Nagpur Railway. Several pujas are held around the city today.

Founded in 1929, the Bengali Association is the oldest association of the non-Telugu community in the city, said Arunabh Karmakar, a software engineer and member of the association. Dasara, he said, is the “biggest festival” for the community.

The puja was suspended for three years during World War II and resumed after 1945, minister AN Bhattacharjee said. Earlier locations included City Hall, Simhachalam Devasthanam Hall near KGH and Rani Chandramani Park Marg. It is now being held at Vasavi Function Hall, next to One Town Police Station, from October 16 to 21. Swarup Kumar Banerjee is the president of the association.

Mr. Bhattacharjee said dramas, which took nearly two months to rehearse, gave way to dance performances as people found less time to practice. Most of the families once lived in One City, but now live in other parts of the city. Treasurer Rabindranath Karmakar said the idols are smaller this year due to the height of the roof; they were once about seven and a half feet tall. Bhog, prepared without onions or garlic, will be served for four days as the puja has an extra day.

Waltair Kalibari at Railway Station Road is celebrating the 66th year of its puja which was started by the Bengal Railways employees. General Secretary Joydev Chakroortty described the temple as the first and oldest Kali temple in the city. The celebrations started on October 15 and will end with the immersion on October 21. Cultural evenings feature ‘Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ artistes from Kolkata.

Founded in 2011, the Utsab Cultural Association held its first puja at AMCOSA Hall in Maharanipeta, where it continues, said vice-president Dr. Alok Mazumdar. “We have a very special bond between all the families,” said member Nilima Choudhury. The program includes dance forms from different states, comedy drama ‘Bhuter Golpo’, Dhunuchi Nach and Sindur Khela with immersion on 20th October.

On the last day, married women apply vermilion to the goddess and to each other in Sindur Khela and wish each other a long and happy married life. During the immersion, the community bids farewell to the goddess and invites her to return next year.

EOM

Published – 18 October 2026 23:30 IST