In pictures - Basumallik Bari Puja in Pataldanga blends heritage, rituals and history
In pictures: Basumallik Bari Puja in Pataldanga blends heritage, rituals and history
From its Swadeshi-era legacy to unique customs, the Basumallik puja continues to celebrate faith and tradition in central Kolkata
My Kolkata Web Desk
Published 29.09.25, 04:41 PM
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The five-arched ‘thakurdalan’ of the Basumallik Bari in Pataldanga, adorned with flowers and drapes, where Durga Puja has been celebrated since 1831
Photos: Amit Datta
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Members of the family prepare ‘alpona’ designs on the floor of the courtyard before the goddess, maintaining age-old traditions of ritual artistry
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Women of the Basumallik family gather inside the decorated courtyard, reinforcing the puja’s intimate, familial character
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The priest performs ‘arati’ before the ‘ekchala’ idol, resplendent in Benarasi silks and ‘daaker saaj’
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Rituals like Sandhi Puja and gun salutes mark the family’s distinct customs, with the courtyard filled with the fragrance of incense and the glow of flames
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Women of the household give offerings of bel leaves and fruits, a practice rooted in the non-Brahmin tradition of the puja
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The Boron ceremony on Dashami, when women bid farewell to the goddess, precedes immersion at Nimtala Ghat, closing days of devotion with deep emotion
