Festivals of West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in eastern India lying between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal. It was a great historic and political significance being a center of power during the British Raj. Durga Pooja is the most important festival for Bengalis. Many pandals are set up to house the clay idol of Durga Maa and streets are lightened up for the festivities. It celebrated the victory of good over evil. The idols of Durga are worshipped for nine days and immersed in the water on the tenth day of Vijaydashmi.
Kali Pooja is the worshipping of the goddess Kali. It is celebrated with grandeur in the state of West Bengal. In this region, the festival of Holi is known as the Dol Pournima. On this day idols of Radha and Krishna are kept on a palanquin and taken all across a city or town. People celebrate with flowers, colors, sweets, etc. Sankranti is also known as Poush Sakranti in this state. On this festival, the fresh harvest of paddy along with date palm syrup is used to prepare traditional Bengali sweets known as Pitha. Other festivals celebrated in this region include Chathh Puja, Eid-ul-Fitr, Guru Nanak Jayanti, etc.
Dates of festivals that follow the lunar calendar can shift by a day depending on the moon and on official notifications. Please confirm with your state government or employer before planning.