March 19, 2026 07:07 pm (IST)
Follow us:
Festive fever grips Kolkata on Mahaashtami
Kolkata, Oct 21 (IBNS): The festivity fever reached peak on Wednesday as the day of Mahaashtami brought along happiness and different hues of aspiration with people flocking to the nearby pandals to offer 'anjali', a special prayer to the goddess.
People adorned in traditional attires were spotted in long queues in almost every pandals (marquees) in the 'City of Joy', waiting for their turn to offer the special prayer since dawn.
Mahaashtami is traditionally known as the day of sacrifices. It was on this date that buffaloes were sacrificed in several families to mark the victory of goddess Durga over the Mahisasur (Buffalo-demon).
However, with the change in situation and time, the entire ritual of animal sacrifice has now become obsolete. These days, vegetables are sacrificed in place of animals and the entire ritual is known as 'balidan'.
The second significant ritual of the day is 'kumari puja' where a young girl is worshipped as 'Kumari'.
This year, the Sandhi puja has been performed in the morning itself.
Traditionally on the day of Mahaashtami, Bengalis prefer to eat vegetarian dishes.
Meanwhile, the streets of Kolkata on the Mahasaptami night were bubbling with huge crowd as they queued up to catch up with the best pandals (marquees) of the city.
From popular restaurants, to small-time food stalls, the queue of pandal hoppers waiting for their refreshment remained unaltered from south to north Kolkata.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Kolkata: Ahiritola Yubak Brinda invites Auram to make jewellery for Ma Durga and her family
Sat, Sep 20 2025
Magh Bihu celebrated in Kolkata
Wed, Jan 15 2025
Telangana governor inaugurates Secunderabad's Bangiya Sanskritik Sangha Durgotsab on its 59th year
Fri, Oct 11 2024
India celebrates Christmas with zeal and enthusiasm
Mon, Dec 25 2023
Sikhs celebrate 554th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev
Mon, Nov 27 2023
New Delhi: US Embassy in India celebrates Diwali
Sun, Nov 12 2023
Bengalis in the German capital welcome Maa Durga with fanfare
Tue, Oct 24 2023
A walkthrough of Kolkata's bonedi barir pujo preparations
Tue, Oct 17 2023