Kolkata, October 8: If you are in Kolkata during this time of the year,  you must have noticed artisans are busy giving their final touches to their idols, Puja Committee members are busy with their last-minute planning to arrange the humongous crowd in the pandals. The shops are crowded, as people struggle to finish their last-minute Puja shopping.  There is something special about this time, and the excitement is clearly visible among people across age groups, as they wait eagerly to welcome Goddess Durga and her children. Navratri Colours 2018 to Wear During Nine Days: Images and List of 9 Colours for Each Date of Sharad Navaratri Festival.

For those residing outside Kolkata, they make it a point to return home during this time, so that they get to spend time with their family and friends and enjoy this festival.  Here is a list of few popular pandals, which you need to visit this Durga Puja in Kolkata.

Sreebhumi Puja Pandal

The famous Puja pandal in Kolkata enjoys the patronage of Sujit Bose, the heavyweight Trinamool MLA from Bidhannagar assembly constituency. Every year, this pandal draws millions of people for its exotic, big-budget themes. This year, the organisers have Padmaavat. Last year, the pandal was modelled on the theme of the blockbuster Bahubali 2, and the puja witnessed a record turnout.

College Square Puja

Last year, the pandal celebrated the 70th year, and it believes in the traditional form of the Devi. The beautiful lighting forms an integral part of the puja. There are reports that Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be present in the College Square Puja pandal this year. Reportedly, he will offer the Pushpanjali on Maha Ashtami at the pandal.  While the Congress is yet to announce the visit, its new Bengal chief Somen Mitra has confirmed it.

Santosh Mitra Square

The puja organisers at Santosh Mitra Square has reportedly constructed a chariot made of 20 tonnes of silver to draw the crowd. The chariot will be 60 feet high and 40 feet wide. Puja committee president Pradip Ghosh as told to PTI said, that he hopes that it will be the USP to draw crowds to the pandal during the five-day festivities. The chariot, will have intricate silver artwork on its inside and outside walls. The silver work is being done by a reputed city-based jewellery brand. In 2017, the Santosh Mitra Square pandal was themed around London's Buckingham Palace

Shibmandir Puja Committee

'Shikorer Tane'(The Call of the Roots) is the theme of Shibmandiar Puja Committee that would focus on the plight of the elderly people whose children have left them for greener pasture, Partha Ghosh, one of the organisers of the south Kolkata puja.

Santoshpur Lake Palli

In Santoshpur Lake Palli, the attraction this time is that 4-tonne haldi or turmeric is being used to decorate the pandal. The reason behind using haldi as the main ingredient is because it is considered auspicious and on the occasion when Maa Durga gained victory over her fight with asuras, the Puja Committee thought the use of haldi is an apt and an innovative ingredient.

Deshapriya Park

If you are in Kolkata, you cannot afford to miss Deshapriya Park puja pandal. Last year, the pandal pulled a huge crowd with their innovative theme of the White Temple of Thailand. In 2015, the 88-feet Durga idol made with cement had to be closed down after a stampede.

Dum Dum Park, Tarun Sangha

Tarun Sangha, Dum Dum Park is another pandal which you need to keep an eye for. It never fails to impress us with its creativity in the form of abstract art and innovative themes.

For those residing outside Kolkata, or for people, who can't make to the pandals, here is an app, which will give you a virtual 360-degree feel of the pandal, you can visit the website or download the PujaApp.

You need to be in Kolkata during Durga Puja, in order to see the extensive planning and the creativity which goes on before the large-scale festival kick-starts. We wish our readers a Very Happy Durga Puja and a colourful Navaratri.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 09, 2018 11:41 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).