On Bijaya Dashami, the day of the festival, people bid adieu
to goddess Durga offering her sweets and sindoor. Before
bidding adieu to the goddess, the married women assem-
ble near the idol, apply vermilion on her feet or forehead
and then smear vermillion on each other. This is a part of
the last celebration before the idols are taken out in grand
processions of song, dance, music and then immersed in
the waters. The idol immersion ceremony continues for
the next few days. People distribute sweets and visit their
friends, family members and relatives to exchange the
Bijoya greetings.
Kojagori Lakshmi Puja
Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped at homes on the full moon
night, just five days after Bijoya Dashami. Public Pujas are
performed in the same pandals as for Durga Puja.
Kali Puja & Diwali
Kali Puja which coincides with the North Indian festival
of Diwali is a major festival of West Bengal, and proba-
bly the second largest after Durga Puja. Goddess Kali is
worshipped at night in thousands of pandals, homes and
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temples. Kali Puja is light-up night for Bengal. People dec-
orate their homes with diyas, candles and lights and draw
colourful rangolis on the floors of their homes. Children
and adults burst firecrackers and burn sparklers through-
out the night. A large number of devotees visit the temples
to offer prayers to the goddess and animals, especially
goats are sacrificed in some places. Two days after it is Bhai
Phonta or Bhatri Dwitiya which is virtually the brother’s
day. On Bhai Phonta, the sisters fast in the morning till
they put a mark of sandalwood paste on their brothers’
foreheads and treat them with gifts and delicacies. While
doing so, they pray to God for the sound health, safety and
prosperity of their brothers. The brothers in return present
gifts to the sisters
Saraswati Puja
Saraswati Puja, a festival honouring the goddess of learn-
ing and arts, is celebrated with domestic pujas, and familial
gatherings in Kolkata on a date between the last week
of January and the middle of February. The day is sacred
to Saraswati, goddess of learning whose worship is cele-
brated with great splendor mainly by students and artists.
Books are often worshipped in lieu of the clay image of
the Goddess. Girl worshipers usually wear saffron and
yellow-coloured cloths. The puja is especially celebrated in