Durga Puja 2022: Kolkata turns pandal hoppers' paradise post pandemic

Every year during Durga Puja clubs and societies in West Bengal organise vibrant Durga Puja pandals based on different themes.

Durga Puja is celebrated in West Bengal with the utmost zeal and fervour. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran) 

Every year during Durga Puja clubs and societies in West Bengal design vibrant Durga Puja pandals based on different themes and attract large crowds. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

Not just fun and frolic, Durga Puja in West Bengal is a grand economic affair involving transactions of at least rupees 40,000 crore, creating employment opportunities for around three lakh people, says stakeholders. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

With more than 40,000 community pujas across the state, including 3,000 in Kolkata, the festival creates a scurry of economic activities for three-four months every year. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

The state government had announced a grant of rupees 60,000 to to each Durga Puja committee in West Bengal urging them to make the puja bigger to celebrate Bengal making it into the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list last year. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

One of the main attractions of this year's Durga Puja is the Tala Prottoy Pandal, which is located in North Kolkata. A true feel of energy can be experienced when we enter this Pandal whose theme is ‘Riti Motion’. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

More than 100 workers from different districts of West Bengal have come to Kolkata to work at this Pandal, which covers an area of 31,469 square feet, and it took almost 108 days to complete the work. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

Tala Prottoy pandal along with Ahiri Tala Sarbojanin, Deshapriya Park, and Ballygunge Cultural are accessible through 3D twins on the Metaverse. Metaform and XP&DLand announced MetaPujo recently which is a foray into the future that brings the iconic durga puja celebrations of Kolkata to the Metaverse. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

The Shree Bhoomi Sporting Club, which is famous for its elaborate and unique pandal, has based their theme on the Vatican City. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

The club has created its marquee as a replica of the Vatican City’s St Peters Basilica. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

President of the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club said that it took 60 days to finish the pandal. “More than 100 artisans have made this pandal together', he said. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

The pictures and videos of the Sree Bhumi puja pandal are being widely shared online. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

Santosh Mitra Square Committee located in Nebutla, Kolkata has built the Red Fort of Delhi on the theme of Amrit Mahotsav of Azadi. This fort is 75 feet high and 120 feet wide, and the visitors get to experience 3D lighting and laser shows in the evening. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

The IMD had predicted moderate rainfall in most parts of south Bengal, which had minimal impact on the pandal-hopping experiences. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

A man walks next to College Square durga puja pandal which is one of the most famous pujas in the Central Kolkata area. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)

Idol of Goddess Durga at Muhammad Ali Park in Kolkata. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran)