In a country like India the excitement and thrill is never missing thanks to it’s ever growing population, traffic and religious zeal. Add to this the number of festivals that Indians celebrate due to the many religions that co-exist here and you have a year-long party. In Delhi, the area of CR Park or Chittaranjan Park turns into a mini Bengal during the Pujo. Yes, this transformation is seen during the 10-day festival of Durga Puja around October each year. One of the most famous festivals in West Bengal, especially Kolkata, is all about honouring the Goddess in every woman. The festival celebrations are kick-started on the auspicious occasion of mahalaya with Bengalis and non-Bengalis greeting each other with ‘Shubho Mahalaya’. Mahalaya is the day when Goddess Durga is believed to have descended to Earth, back to her parent’s home. However, before we get into the grand celebrations of Durga Puja, it is important to know one of the most important and sacred rituals of the festival. One such practice is that of using soil from the home of a sex-worker to prepare the Durga idols. This is one of the ultimate ways of paying respect to a woman. According to Hindu rituals, for the preparation of the Durga idol, four things are of extreme significance - mud from the banks of the Ganga, cow urine, cow dung and soil from a brothel also known as Nishiddho Pallis or forbidden territory. Without Puniya Maati, the Durga idol is incomplete. When the idol of the Goddess is being painted, the eyes are left without colour. When Maa Durga is invited to Earth on Mahalaya, the eyes are finally drawn on the idols in a ritual called Chokkhu Daan. It is believed the Goddess descends to Earth at the time of painting the eyes onto the idols. On Panchmi, the ritual of invoking the spirit of the Goddess into the idols takes place. Last year, the Pujo at Matri Mandir was inaugurated by the Minister of Textiles, Smriti Irani on the day after Panchami as the pandal there got flooded due to a sudden, heavy downpour. With around 17 pandals in C.R. Park alone, our team got to experience the grandeur of Durga Puja celebrations in C.R. Park, Matri Mandir in Safdarjung Enclave and Katwaria Sarai. The Durga Puja celebrations in Katwaria Sarai are fairly different from those in C.R. Park or Matri Mandir. The Oriya community of Katwaria Sarai follows a their own, Oriya way of celebrating this festival. At every few meters during the days of festivities, one finds stalls offering mouth watering foods to satisfy cravings that take over after long walks from one pandal to another. People dressed up in their best attires make the streets break out in a riot of colours. One can also do a bit of shopping as every pandal has stalls selling ornaments and clothes, tempting the shopper. This year, with a mandate of caution and social distancing, we hope our re-cap of last year’s joyous Durga Puja celebrations keeps you safe and healthy at home. Happy Pujo! This footage is part of the broadcas