Navratri and Dussehra in Kolkata for every community: where Ravan dahan happens, finding garba nights, vrat food, Golu at home, and how to enjoy Durga Puja if you're not Bengali.
Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu) over the Hooghly. Photo: Ovjtphoto, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Calendars differ by a day for some communities. Follow your own panchang for fasting and home rituals, and the Bengal dates above for the pandals.
Sabudana khichdi, a common Navratri fasting food. Photo: Mrudit161187, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
North Indian families in Kolkata mark Dussehra with Ramlila and the burning of Ravana's effigy.
Effigies of Ravana and his brothers before Ravan Dahan on Dussehra. Photo: Thesocialtalks, CC0, Wikimedia Commons.
Kolkata's garba and dandiya nights are mostly ticketed events run by community associations, clubs, hotels and event companies, along with private gatherings of Gujarati and Marwari families.
Clay diyas lit for Diwali. Photo: Alokjain19883105, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Tamil and Telugu families in Kolkata keep Golu, the Navratri display of dolls on steps, at home.
Sabudana khichdi, a common Navratri fasting food. Photo: Mrudit161187, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
If you keep a Navratri fast, plan for the pandals: most of the food around them, from rolls to phuchka, is not vrat food.
Phuchka, Kolkata's favourite street snack. Photo: TAPAS KUMAR HALDER, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
You don't need to be Bengali to enjoy Kolkata's Pujo; the whole city is invited.
Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu) over the Hooghly. Photo: Ovjtphoto, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Navratri and Dussehra in Kolkata for every community: where Ravan dahan happens, finding garba nights, vrat food, Golu at home, and how to enjoy Durga Puja if you're not Bengali.
Navratri in Kolkata → Next story: Kanya pujan: how to honour young girls on Ashtami or Navami All photo storiesMusic: Garba dance during Navaratri festival in Mehsana Gujarat India, Nizil Shah, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.