Durga Puja Oct 19, 2023

Durga Puja is a Hindu festival spanning ten days, according to the Hindu calendar. Devotees set up pandals and display huge idols of Goddess Durga along with Saraswati, Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya. Durga can be seen defeating the demon Mahishasura, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. Each year, as the festival approaches, the atmosphere of Kolkata undergoes a transformation as communities come together to celebrate. Months ahead of the festival artisans construct exquisite idols of the goddess, after which they are meticulously adorned with vibrant clothing as well as jewellery. In December 2021, the United Nations recognised Durga Puja in Kolkata as part of the world"s cultural heritage. It"s now listed as an "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO. On the last day of the festival, the clay idols are immersed in the same river from which the earth was sourced along with the beating of drums.

© Rob Pinney/Alamy Stock Photo

palette

Today in History

Wait, mountain – you shall bear my castle!
Oct 19, 2024Temple of Hathor, Dendera Temple Complex, Qena, Egypt
Oct 19, 2025Apples ready for harvest, Minnesota, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

What are these ancient animals?
Oct 15, 2023European hedgehog
Sep 28, 2024Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida, USA
A church atop a hill
Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba
Dec 4, 2024Navy Day
Sep 1, 2024River Thames, London, England
Jul 25, 2024Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA
Jun 26, 2024Banggai cardinalfish with sea anemone
Sep 5, 2023Mount Segla, Senja Island, Norway
Pastel perfection
Dec 12, 2024Poinsettia
Sep 25, 2025Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan
Aug 29, 2024Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
Mar 25, 2024Happy Holi!
The dawn of a new beginning
A grand view
Apr 18, 2025International Day for Monuments and Sites
Jul 21, 2025Staghorn coral in shallow ocean
Jul 24, 2024Flock of Swaledale sheep in North Yorkshire, England
What’s your favorite colour?
A splash of colour
Jan 10, 2026The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland
Jul 24, 2025Adalaj Stepwell, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Beauty all around
Huddled and hunting
Nov 5, 2023Playa del Silencio, Spain
A beacon in the golden light
May 15, 2024The Blue City of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Jan 1, 2024Happy New Year!