The celebratory mood of Bengalis is on a high during Durga Puja. Its five days of celebration with themed pandals and traditional food, friendship, and creativity. Everything seems illuminated from the sky as the pandals are bathed with lights. But Pujo does not come without its share of madness. From the Pujo shopping to pandal hopping till wee hours of the morning, you will relate to this list if you are obsessed with Pujo like every true Bengali.

1. Durga Puja Begins With a Lot of Shopping

If you have ever visited Kolkata, you know that people start flocking the markets months before Durga Puja. It is never too early to shop for Pujo shopping and it is never too much. Ask any Bengali the count of their new clothes and you will be surprised to know the number.

2. The Moral Obligation - A Bengali Always Pays the Chaanda

The Pujo pandals are glorious work of art and we have seen outstanding pandals over the years. But who makes the high-budget pandals possible, anyway? It is a collaborative effort by every Bengali family where they contribute generously for their 'parar pujo'. So naturally, not being able to contribute to the Pujo activities is nothing less than a moral obligation.

3. Status Updates Like 'Maa Aaschen' Are Imperative

This is the time of the year where you will see the typical Durga Puja status updates even from someone who always maintained a low-profile on social media. This is how excited Bengalis are during Pujo. They can't keep calm and they don't shy away from displaying it to the world. Durga Puja 2019 Traditional Bengali Dishes: Kosha Mangsho to Muri Ghonto, Check Out the Finger Licking Non-Veg Food Recipes to Devour This Pujo.

4. You Cannot Miss Out On the Displays

Pandal hopping is imperative even if that means taking an early discharge from the hospital. It almost has a placebo effect on the Bengalis where everything automatically starts feeling better. If you too need some therapy, try pandal hopping.

5. Staying Out Till Early in the Morning Is Perfectly Acceptable

It is not uncommon for Bengalis to be out and about hopping pandals till wee hours in the morning and getting up at 8 am for anjali. It technically means only three hours of sleep in a day, but who cares? It is Pujo! Durga Puja 2019 Special: Bengali Sweets Without Which Every Pujo Is Incomplete.

6. The Dhaak Beats Release Endorphins in Your System

This is the time of the year where we get to see enthusiastic oldies shaking a leg or to the beats of dhaak. People often crowd into the pandal to watch the pandit perform aarti while players play the dhak and dance to its infectious rhythm.

7. Deciding Your Austami Outfit Is a Major Challenge

Every Bengali will spend a copious amount of time deciding what outfit to wear on Austami. And why not? It is considered to be the most auspicious day in the Durga Puja itinerary. With the morning anjali and the Kumari Puja and people flocking to pandals, every Bong gives the best shot to be the cynosure of the event. Love Is In Air during Pujo: Why Durga Puja Is the Valentine's Week for Bengalis.

8. The Words 'Bhoger Khichudi' Are Like Music to Your Ears

Yes, Bongs are known to feast during the five days of Durga Puja, but if there is one time they will ditch the kosha mangsho and luchi for a more delightful meal, it has to be the bhoger khichudi offered to Goddess Durga. It is a combination of rice, vegetables, and lentils cooked to perfection with spices and aromatic herbs.

9. Pandal Hopping Is Your Favourite Hashtag

If there is one hashtag floating on your Instagram feed during Pujo days, it is #pandalhopping and for good reason. If you cannot make to Kolkata during Puja, you can at least do virtual darshan of Goddess Durga through your feed.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2019 02:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).