West Bengal’s biggest festival, Durga Puja is a grand affair that witnesses hordes of people from the state and outside, flooding the streets to get a glimpse of the spectacle at the numerous pandals.
The festival of lights, Diwali or Deepawali, follows Durga Puja. In West Bengal the celebrations are a five daylong gala affair that chronologically comprises of the festivities of:
In West Bengal, Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth is worshipped five days after Dussehra on a clear-whitewashed full moon or Purnima night. On the immediately following new moon or Amavasya night, Diwali is celebrated. The celebrations coincide with Kali Puja where Goddess Kali, destroyer of the evil and diabolic is terrifying in her destructive and belligerent mood. To pay a tribute to the dangerous incarnate of Goddess Durga in her fiery temper, lamps or diyas are lit and in return the divine Goddess pledges a fresh new lease of life and justice on the planet.
Unlike other states, the Bengali populace of West Bengal does not celebrate Diwali with new clothes, sparkling gold jewelry or utensils but with great religious fervor. However the houses look splendid in the evenings as they are decked up with colorful light bulbs and glowing diyas. Even numbered plantain leaves and diyas are lined along the doorsteps of houses to welcome visitors.
Of course West Bengal does not lag behind its counterparts in the celebrations. On the first days prior to Amavasya, sweets and dry fruits are distributed; people indulge in feasting and gambling while little children merrily burst firecrackers.
