5 Popular Festivals In West Bengal You Should Not Miss

West Bengal is an incredible state in terms of festivals, culture, attire, and lifestyle. This region has been glorified in several facets of the photographic and print media. A plethora of celebrations and festivities is one of the features that highlight the state and makes it worth a visit. There are several different festivals organized in West Bengal that keep the residents busy all around the year. Some of them being Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Kali Puja, and many more. The entire atmosphere gets elevated and charged up during the festival season. Being a part of these popular celebrations is a memory for a lifetime. So, let us get started with the list of festivals of West Bengal that take place in a year.

# Saraswati Puja

This festival happens in the period between January and February. Saraswati Puja is considered to be one of the distinctive celebrations held in West Bengal. Bengalis celebrate this day as the homecoming of the Goddess Saraswati. This festival is celebrated on the 5thday of Magha month. It is also called Vasant Panchami in the Northern areas of the country.

Bengalis have a special significance on this day. They believe this day is an auspicious occasion for education and learning related things. It is considered to be a highly fortunate occasion for their children to begin their academic learning. On this day, girls wear colorful saris and take darshan of the nicely decorated Goddess Saraswatipandals.

# Durga Puja

This festival happens in the period between September and October. Durga Puja is one of the major festivals of West Bengal. The massive celebration that happens during the festival is famous throughout the world. It commemorates the triumph of Good over Evil. People have this belief that Goddess Durga defeated the demon “Mahishasura” after a fierce battle that lasted for ten days. The last day or tenth day is called Vijay Dashmi.

This festival is marked by offering prayers to the Goddess Durga, rejoicing, feasts, dance, drama, and music. On this auspicious day, people dress up in new colorful clothes. They visit puja pandals of different communities and pay reverence to the ten-armed goddess Durga. In the pandals, Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, and Kartikeya are beautifully ornated and decorated. The priests do the prayers at prearranged times whereas the devotees visit pandals during the day.

# Lakshmi Puja

Lakshmi Puja is another very significant Hindu festival celebrated by the Bengalis in October. It is celebrated throughout the state with great enthusiasm and passion. During this festival, people from different parts of the world come to visit the state to be a part of this grand festivity. Lakshmi Puja takes place a week later Vijay Dashmi.

People devote their respect and gratitude towards Maa Lakshmi who is believed to be the Goddess of prosperity, and wealth. Lakshmi Pooja is the festival of lights. People celebrate it at home by either performing all the rituals by a priest or on their own. Prayers are made to bestow prosperity and wealth to their homes

# Kali Puja

Kali Puja is another noteworthy festival that takes place in West Bengal in October or November. This is a long festival that goes for about twenty days. It happens after Durga Puja. Besides Durga Puja, it is one of the largest festivals in Kolkata. Kali Puja festival is celebrated in the honor of Goddess Kali. It is recognized by the chanting of mantras in the nighttime that goes till dawn. The Goddess is ornated with beautiful garlands made of hibiscuses. All the sacred chanting of mantras is carried out in the presence of the holy fire. Devotees offer several types of offerings to the Goddess that includes sweets, lentils, and rice.

# Bhai Phota

Bhai Phota is celebrated throughout West Bengal in the month of November. It is similar to the major Hindu festival “Raksha Bandhan”. This festival denotes the affection between the brother and the sister. In other words, Bhai Phota is the Bengali version of Raksha Bandhan. The rituals performed in both festivals are more or less similar.

Here also, the sister puts “kumkum teeka” on the forehead of the brother along with some chantings. Later she offers him sweets and wishes for his long life. Brother gets the strength to stay on the righteous path. This festival relishes the tie between a sister and a brother.