Tolly star Prosenjit and US consul general Patti Hoffman ride a hand-drawn carriage that welcomes visitors to Sikdar Bagan Sadharan Durgotsav, the Model Puja for CESC The Telegraph True Spirit Puja 2018, powered by Patanjali
Rashbehari Das, Pabitra Das, B. Halder, Arnab Mondal and Biswajit KunduParno Mittra clicks a festive selfie at the entrance to Dum Dum Tarun Dal
Rashbehari Das, Pabitra Das, B. Halder, Arnab Mondal and Biswajit KunduThe magnificence and the diverse themes of the pujas have bowled me over yet again. But I think crowd management needs to be the priority for all organisers — Michael Feiner, German consul general
Nusrat Jahan tried her hand at playing a dhaak for the first time at the Olabibitola Sarbojanin puja in Howrah. “I have only played the guitar so far. Sync-e chhilo… besh moja legechhe… it was great fun. You should wake up to the beats of dhaak during Puja. That’s the blessed part about being a Calcuttan. We wait for it the whole year. It took me back to my childhood when I would actually wake up to the beats of dhaak,” she smiled
Rashbehari Das, Pabitra Das, B. Halder, Arnab Mondal and Biswajit KunduA shower of flowers and the beats of the dhaak greeted actress Rituparna Sengupta at Shyamapally Shyama Sangha, a Four Star Puja. “I loved the way the women welcomed me in a traditional way. We look forward to such moments. Their protima is beautiful. I liked the way they have given wings to the lion,” she said
Rashbehari Das, Pabitra Das, B. Halder, Arnab Mondal and Biswajit KunduI was not prepared for this explosion of craftsmanship based on themes that resonate with environmental and safety concerns — Virginie Corteval, French consul general
Prosenjit and Patti Hoffman take a quick selfie in front of the idol before resuming judging duties
Rashbehari Das, Pabitra Das, B. Halder, Arnab Mondal and Biswajit KunduResplendent in festive red, actress Swastika Mukherjee matched steps to women dhaakis at Suruchi Sangha
Rashbehari Das, Pabitra Das, B. Halder, Arnab Mondal and Biswajit KunduI am so immensely impressed by the diversity, the themes and how they all have Ma Durga at the centre but are all still so unique in the different messages that they want to convey — Patti Hoffman, US consul general