Happy Durga Pujo!

Ahha! This is my favorite time of the year, too many festivals and holidays! Durga pujo, Diwali, christmas, new year and what not!

I love the happiness,chaos, explosive sound, overcrowded streets, nostalgia in the air!Everyone around is busy preparing for Durga Pujo or Navartri as you may call it. Durga Puja festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. Thus, Durga Puja festival epitomises the victory of Good over Evil.

Durga Puja is widely celebrated in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand,Manipur, Odisha, Tripura and West Bengal, where it is a five-day annual holiday.

I am more of a Bengali-without-the-Bengali-genes(daddy, mommy, mine best friends were all bengalis, so you know the influence), Mommy used to perform the "kalash asthpna" for Goddess durga on the first day of the auspicious navratri, which marks the start of festivities and celebrations at home.

Celebrations means lots of shopping, sweets and awesome dishes, you know what I mean! The house used to be filled with ghee odour as something or other is continuously cooking in the kitchen, I used to love when the neighboring family would invite us for navratri feast on the eight day of the festivities and treat us like goddness durga, worship us and dool us up with gifts and savories.

Durga pujo is synomous of friends, fun, adda and pandal hopping!As been born in the eastern part of the country, "pandal hopping" is my favorite! If you are lucky enough, visit kolkata during these nine days, its a different world altogether! 

If you are like me, who is Bangalore, here is the list of Durga Puja Pandals in the city,

1. The Bengalee Association - Gayatri Vihar, Palace Grounds, Mekhri Circle. 

2.  Sarathi Socio-Cultural Trust - Mangala Kalyana Mantapa, 80 Ft Road, Koramangala 8th Block. Next to Aangan Restaurant and opposite to Ganesh Temple.

3. ALT Training College-Kaikondahalli, Sarjapur Main Road, Beside Total Mall and Prestige Pegasus Building.

4. Durgapuja Sharad Utsav 2013, opposite to Wipro Gate 16, (Beside Ajmera Infinity), Electronic City, Phase 1, Bangalore 100.

Talking about Durga Pujo and not mentioning about the traditional Bengali delicacies is a crime, which I am obviously not committing!!


The list is way too long, here is my favorite pick which you should definitely try!

 Luchi-Aloo dum:

 Labra:

Chola dal

Misti doi:

  5. Sorshe Illish (Hilsa fish made in a paste of mustard seeds):

6. Kosha Mangsho(Spicy Mutton curry):

7.Rosogulla:

8. Khicuri-Begun Bhaja with pickles:

Begun bhaja:

Still reading this post?! why-o-why?!
Go and nag your friend to take you for Pandal Hopping and discover the awesome "Bong connection"!

Happy Durga pujo to you once again!

:)