Have You Made Your Durga Puja Plans Yet? 10 Breathtaking Durga Puja Pandals Theme in Kolkatta and 5 Street Foods That is Every Foodie's Dream!!!

The city's collective creativity is unleashed during the time of Durga Puja and this is evident in the lavish, ornate and beautifully constructed pandals that dot the city of Kolkata and elsewhere in West Bengal. They are indeed marvellous creations and one must try to see as many of them as possible, even if you do not have a strong spiritual bent of mind. And when you want to take a look at all the amazing Durga puja pandals out there, it's time to go pandal hopping! This has become a trend in Kolkata not only for locals but for people all across India. From small kids to elderly people, you can spot people of all age group at these pandals.

No matter how many crowds gather, people dress up and enjoy themselves at the huge pandals for Durga Puja. And where there are crowds there are also markets, delicious food, beautiful clothes and a whole assortment of knick-knacks. If you are someone who wants to explore a lot, make sure that you put pandal hopping in Kolkata in your list.

For all the foodies out there, Kolkata can be your ultimate food heaven at the time of Durga Puja. You can say that this city is no less than foodie’s paradise for all the people out there, especially for street food lovers.

Some of the most amazing food items you can enjoy outside the pandals are puchhkas, egg rolls, Mughlai paratha and many more. And don’t even get us started on the sweets too as Kolkata is all about mishti doi and roshogullas.

This is not just about the Durga puja pandal theme but also about the stunning street lights and the fun which keeps on going all night long. When you are done witnessing the gorgeous Idols of Durga Ma, you can move out in more open areas and witness stunning lights out there.

Don’t forget to click numerous pictures as you will get gorgeous shots out there. You can enjoy the awesome vibes all night long and this is going to be one awesome experience for you.

It has been 65 years since Suruchi Sangha Pandal is celebrating Durga Puja. However, it was in 2003 when their efforts were finally acknowledged and last year’s theme came as a big showcase for the visitors here.

This pandal comes up with a unique theme every year which showcases an Indian state each year. The entire décor and display are created by taking care of the details with one particular state in mind. The idol itself looks different every year as they try to shape it the way it looks in that particular state.

The outdoor display was on point and even little details were captured beautifully in the pandal. It was an eco-friendly theme last year where organic pandal was made. The soil was collected from different districts of Bengal and Siwalik Hills and Pandal was created through it. They conveyed the messages of soil preservation through it.

Ekdalia Evergreen Club is one of the most popular and oldest Sarbajanin Durga Puja Pandal in Kolkata which allows people from all castes and creeds. They have been organizing pandal celebrations since 1943 and is located in South Kolkata.

Ekdalia club is quite popular in Kolkata for showcasing their temple theme every year. What makes it unique is that they try to replicate various temples from all across India and each year they bring something new.

Their pandal showcases one of the tallest statues of Maa Durga in the entire city. Last year they created the replica of Big Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It was made out of fibreglass and was looking gigantic. However, the traditional idol remains the same which was decked up in Banarasi saree last year.

One of the most eye-opening Durga puja pandal theme you will ever get to see in entire Kolkata is by Behala Friends Club. Last year their Durga Puja theme was dedicated to refugees and the struggles they see in their lives. This refugee crisis theme was covered not only on a national level but global level too.

The concept of inclusivity was truly beyond anything you would have ever seen in these pandals. And this enlightening theme was carried out very beautifully through décor and idol. Everything was kept minimal to evoke a sense of monotony and struggle in the life of these people. These décor led to huge appreciation from the crowd too. Don’t forget to visit their pandal this time too.

If you want to witness a traditional and simple pandal in all its glory then better visit Bagbazar Sarbojonin Durgotsav and Exhibition or simple Baghbazar premise. The last pandal that they organized was based on the traditional theme depicting everything the way it should be. This is also the oldest pandal in Kolkata which celebrated its 100th Pandal celebration last year in 2018. This was a sight to behold for many.

They brought this strikingly beautiful idol of Goddess Durga which was larger than life. Also, an exhibition was held along with stalls, carnivals rides and other recreational activities. You should better visit this pandal at the time of Dashmi (last day of Navratri) when married women enjoy Sindoor Khela ritual before the Visarjan takes place. You should visit such traditional themes.

Well, Deshapriya Park isn’t about Durga puja simple pandal at all as their themes are always over the top and ones which leave people grasping for breath, literally. In fact, in 2015 they installed an 88ft Durga idol which was so spectacular they had to shut down because of extreme crowd and stampede.

Now, this is what we are talking about here. Kolkata can be simply unpredictable sometimes. They have been organizing pandals since 1983 so they aren’t as old as other ones mentioned here. They organized the Gujarat theme last year with the title “Ek Tukro Gujarat” where everything was created by keeping the essence of this state in mind. If you want to see more such amazing themes of Durga Puja then you should visit this pandal.

In this age of plagiarism, if you want to see real creativity then you should visit Badamtala Ashar Sangha Pandal which is around 75 years old. This pandal has a unique experience of showcasing fictional themes that you would want them to be real. This Pandal even won an award for its creative excellence. Last year in 2018 they showcase their theme called “Shob Choritro Kalponic” which means all characters are fictional.

Apart from being diverse and unique, their theme was captivating too. Last year’s theme was dedicated to women empowerment. What drew people’s attention was that deity had no weapons to spread the message of peace and calmness which was truly something unique to watch. The colourful backdrop and simple idol was truly a beauty to gaze at.

If you want to witness larger than life Durga puja pandal theme then visit Mohammad Ali Park right away. The last year’s theme of this park was Monument Architecture where they created Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan and it was simply magical. 2018 also marked the 50th anniversary of the pandal which further boosted up the spirit of the festival. The crowd and vibes of this place last year was magnificent.

This is a permanent crowd-puller place in Kolkata at the time of Durga Puja. This pandal began in 1969 and the idol here has a unique and ethereal look which is so stunning that you do not want to take your eyes off it. You can also visit College Square Pandal located right opposite to this pandal.

One of the most unique themes of Durga puja in the entire Kolkata is at Central Colony Durga Puja Pandal. They always try to create something totally out of the box and even though it is not about the festival, the pandal still garners attention. Last year they created Heritage Railway Station themed pandal. The entire decoration and vibes were all about railways and they carried it beautifully too.

They even made the replica of the engine of a toy train which was later installed in the pandal itself. They always try to give out a message regarding the preservation of national heritage hence their concepts are always unique and approachable. They even made the entire pandal out of bamboo one time which was simple yet breathtaking.

Hindustan Park has been celebrating Durga Puja from last 83 years and each time they come up with something very beautiful. Their theme mostly revolves around Ma or Mother and last year they made Maa their theme. They installed a giant statue of Maa Durga right in front of the pandal. What was unique about this installation was that the statue was made of Bengali letters making the word Ma which was quite a unique concept to watch.

Each year they create more such unique statues which ultimately honours our mothers and their hardship through their life. This is a must-visit pandal for everyone which is located in South Kolkata.

If you want to take a look at the popular theme pandal image then you should check out the pictures of the stunning Santosh Mitra Square Pandal of last year. It was in the news and went viral after they people organized a chariot artwork theme which was made out of silver, the worth of Rs. 40Cr. This chariot was made especially for the pandal and used to ferry Durga idol in it. The entire pandal looked super artistic and every inch and corner was beautifully crafted.

This pandal is also one of the oldest ones in Kolkata which celebrated its 82nd pandal celebration last year. In fact, the idol was wearing 30kg of saree last year which was made out of gold. If you want to see more such artistic themes of pandal then you should totally visit Santosh Mitra Square this year too.

When you are done watching stunning Durga puja theme out and about the city, you are sure to feel super tired and hungry. So, it is the time for you to indulge in some binge eating sessions as Kolkata have some delicious food to offer. Amongst all, you can try out these food items that are super yum.

Egg Rolls is as dear for people in Kolkata as Vada Pao to the people of Mumbai. This is like the ultimate street food staple you can spot in all the areas of Kolkata. Of course, there are awesome varieties available for various moods. You can find egg rolls stuffed with chicken and mutton for more spicy and heavy experience and we are pretty sure that you won’t be disappointed.

Forget about Hyderabad because apparently, you get to enjoy the best Biryani in Kolkata along with sprawling Durga puja pandal theme. Biryani is one of the most loved food items for Bengalis. You can choose between chicken and mutton additions in the Biryani but no matter what you will get big chunks of potatoes for sure.

If you want to taste the authentic bhog then visit the pandals on Maha Ashtami. You can find this bhog in almost all the pandals which usually contains labra (Bengali mix veg), khichdi, chutney and payesh. You won’t find anything non-veg on this day but the simple bhog is simply outstanding and heart-warming to enjoy with your friends and family.

If you have some time handy after watching multiple Durga puja pandal theme on different venues then you should try the Mughlai paratha. This is an egg paratha filled with minced meat and then deep-fried. You can find the stall of Mughlai paratha outside every single pandal as this food item is super popular in the entire Bengal.

And finally, the much-loved puchkas aren’t to be missed when you are visiting pandals back to back. One thing that you should get in mind is that golgappas, pani puri and puchkas are all three different things and differs a lot based on flavours. Usually, in Kolkata, puchkas are enjoyed with spicy and tangy chutney which tastes amazing.