The festive fever of Durga Puja finally came to an end with the Vijaya Dasami on Friday (Oct 3, 2014) . While the idols were being immersed, there is a tinge of sadness as the wait begins for another year for the annual visit of the Goddess on earth to her parental house. Women on the occasion, however, smeared each other with vermilion, known as Sindoor Khela, as they bid farewell to the Mother Goddess. Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Kolkata celebrates last day of festival
People of Kolkata hit the streets to celebrate the last day of the festival as Maha Dashami puja was held amid a mood of gloominess in the city and the rest of Bengal on Friday (October 3, 2014). Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
MAHA NAVAMI
Kolkata observes Sandhi Puja today
Amid the performance of the Maha Ashtami puja and the commencement of the Maha Navami, the Bengali community on Thursday (Oct 2, 2014) witnessed the pious Sandhi Puja in Kolkata. Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Festive fever reaches peak on Maha Ashtami-Maha Navami
The festive spirit in Kolkata reached its peak on Thursday,(Oct 2, 2014) as the Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami celebrations of the Durga Puja commenced on the same day. The day began amid the pious 'pushpanjali' (prayers with flowers), where thousands of devotees offer their prayers to the Goddess in empty stomach at various marquees (puja pandal) across the state. Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Festive fever grips Kolkata on Mahasaptami evening
Kolkata on Wednesday (Oct 1, 2014) joined the mood of festivity as large number of people visited pandals across the city to pay homage to Goddess Durga on the seventh day of the festival, known as 'Mahasaptami'. Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
India-US 'Yudh Abhyas' concludes
New Delhi, Sept 30 (IBNS) The Indo-US Combined Military Training Exercise Yudh Abhyas, 2014, which commenced on Sept 17 at Ranikhet and Chaubattia concluded Tuesday.
India, US combined military training exercise in progress
New Delhi, Sept 29 (IBNS) The India-US Combined Military Training Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2014, which commenced on Sept 17 at Ranikhet and Chaubattia, is in progress.
Tarpan at Babughaat
As Kolkata celebrates its annual Durga Puja festival, IBNS selects some of the best Durga idols and pandals from across the 'City of Joy'. Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Kolkata soaks in Mahasaptami fervor
The festive spirit, joy and enthusiasm of the Bengali community in Kolkata received an extra fillip on Wednesday on the Mahasaptami day as people upped their celebratory mood to a great deal. On Mahasaptami, some important rituals of the puja are performed with 'Nabapatrika snan' or 'Kolabou snan' (bathing of banana bride) and 'pravesh' (entrance of Goddess in the mandap-the place of worship) at dawn. The stem of a banana plant is bathed and draped in a red and white saree that make it look like a newly wed bride and then placed beside Lord Ganesha as 'Kalabou' is considered to be his wife according to Hindu mythology. IBNS images of the ritual and pandal hopping since morning. Images by Avishek Mitra
Modi reaches out to youths at New York rock concert
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): After delivering a powerful speech at the UN General Assembly in New York and calling for urgent reform and rejuvenation of the United Nations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rock concert at the Central Park in New York City.
Sharmila, Soumitra get together for puja inauguration
Bollywood veteran Sharmila Tagore and his first hero, the Dada Saheb Phalke winning Soumitra Chatterjee, were the cynosure of attraction at a Durga Puja opening on Sunday (Sept 28, 2014) in Kolkata. Industrialist Sundeep Bhutoria, Chairman, Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Committee, was present at the inauguration of the Puja, its 72nd year. Filmmaker Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury (Tony) was also present at the famous puja opening at Amherst Street (Raja Ram Mohan Sarani) . Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Bumper year for whisky tourism toasted at Ryder Cup
Mike Cantlay (Chairman of VisitScotland) and Peter Lederer (Director of Diageo in Scotland and Chairman of Gleneagles Hotel) lining up their putts in the Johnnie Walker Experience at The 2014 Ryder Cup, a visitor attraction designed to promote whisky and golf to spectators at the event.
Mimi depicts 'The Fface of Durga'
A photo shoot of "The Fface of Durga" on the theme of Women Empowerment was held in Kolkata on Wednesday (September 24, 2014). Tollywood actress Mimi Chakraborty was present at the shoot as she depicted Goddess Durga along with four fresh models as the various forms of the manifestation of Devi Durga. Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS