Inscribed by the UN cultural company, UNESCO, in 2021 as a component of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Durga Puja isn’t only a competition, it’s a city-wide act of reimagination, one which resonates with the Bengali diaspora and others world wide.

For a number of autumn nights, town of Kolkata (and different components of West Bengal) grew to become an open-air gallery the place native communities construct dazzling short-term temples or pandals, artisans from Kumartoli sculpt the goddess from river clay, drummers (dhaakis) roll thunder by means of the streets, and tens of millions wander from one illuminated dreamscape to the subsequent.

The festivities drew to an in depth on Thursday.

What appears to be like like a spectacle is definitely a neighborhood in movement: native golf equipment elevating funds, households volunteering, craftspeople collaborating, and whole native economies springing to life round meals, lights, music, and artwork.

Households map their “pandal-hopping” routes, musicians set the rhythm, meals stalls weave town collectively, and town itself turns into a stage. Every kind of divisions – class, caste, ethnicity – on this metropolis of teeming tens of millions, soften away.

UNESCO recognition

UNESCO recognised the Durga Puja, named after the Hindu goddess Durga, in 2021 describing it as “the perfect occasion of the general public efficiency of faith and artwork, and a thriving floor for collaborative artists and designers.”

As Tim Curtis, UNESCO Representative in India, defined, “It embodies the Sarbojonin spirit – ‘for all individuals’ – that has outlined neighborhood worship since 1926. From clay sculptors to drummers, designers to native organizers, the whole metropolis contributes to one of the vibrant cultural expressions on the planet.”

That is heritage not locked away in monuments however alive in apply, handed hand-to-hand by means of craftsmanship, reimagined yearly with new themes, and binding communities throughout class, religion, and language.

Durga Puja can be a inventive economic system powerhouse. A 2019 research estimated the competition’s industries generate $4.53 billion, 2.58 per cent of West Bengal’s GDP.

Artwork with a message

For Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, this 12 months marked his first go to to the century-old pandal now spotlighting sustainable agriculture, highlighting the broader significance of the Sustainable Development Goals.

He instructed UN Information, “Usually you see Goddess Durga defeating evil – right here the ‘evil’ is pesticides and unsustainable farming practices. Behind me stands a show with 280 rice varieties from japanese and northeastern India. That’s 12-13 million guests being uncovered to highly effective messages about natural agriculture, biodiversity, and sustainability.”

One other headline-grabber is an AI-themed pandal that fuses devotion with digital creativeness. Goddess Durga seems in her conventional type – ten arms and a lion – whereas the backdrop bursts with circuit-board patterns, glowing knowledge streams, and neon gentle.

The purpose is obvious: religion and know-how can co-exist; even in a futuristic body.

Customer reactions mirror this mix of marvel and warning. One 30-year-old lab technician from Kolkata, Nupur Hajara stated “the extra positively individuals obtain AI, the higher. In the event that they take it negatively, that received’t assist – proper?”

IT skilled, Sumitam Shom defined: “Durga Puja is our largest, most particular competition – and now AI is a part of the dialog. It could actually do a whole lot of good, however there are dangers too, particularly fraud. Deepfakes and viral photos are actual considerations. With out safeguards, somebody may misuse images and deceive individuals. So, it’s essential that we use these applied sciences responsibly.”

Including a distinct register of urgency, one other pandal with the theme of “Shabdo” (“Sound”) attracts consideration for its poignant concentrate on the vanishing sounds of nature – chirping birds, rustling leaves, croaking frogs – captured by means of immersive, sensory design.

A meditation on nostalgia

It was a meditation on environmental loss and nostalgia, asking what it means for the sounds of nature inside a metropolis to develop quieter as habitats shrink.

Raja, a pandal customer, put it merely: “You barely see birds anymore. My grandfather used to inform me how frequent they have been; now they’re uncommon – partly, we imagine, as a consequence of cellular community impacts. This pandal is our option to get up the neighborhood, to discover ways to convey the birds again and to begin engaged on it collectively.”

Many different pandals additionally echo pressing social themes. One honours acid assault survivors, not solely elevating consciousness however celebrating their dignity and contributions. One other highlights water conservation.

For younger guests too, the messages resonate. Tisa, an 18-year-old scholar at a pandal devoted to water conservation, mirrored that “groundwater is depleting day-to-day. That is the easiest way to unfold consciousness to the general public.”

Making Puja accessible to all

Durga Puja can be taking a step towards inclusivity.

In June 2025, UNESCO and the UN in India, working with organizations of individuals with disabilities, launched complete accessibility tips for competition organisers.

The outcomes are seen on the bottom. Ramps and barrier-free layouts ease mobility, Braille signage and sign-language interpreters broaden communication, and quiet seating areas present enable individuals to relaxation.

Because the UN’s Shombi Sharp recalled, “We heard from a father who, for the primary time in 17 years, was in a position to convey his daughter, a wheelchair consumer, to have a good time Durga Puja. That was an extremely emotional second.”