Best Durga Puja Pandals to visit in Kolkata this year

Pujo in Kolkata is a melee of lights, music, food, and laughter. It is competition and collaboration all at once. Homes, clubs, and Puja associations outdo one another with dazzling idols and pandals. The pandals are adorned with bamboo and cloth marvels, often planned in advance for the year. They are built around themes that push art and imagination to its edge. For these 91 hours, Kolkata refuses to sleep, ready with excuses for lateness, packed with pandal-hopping schedules and endless adda.

There are a multitude of ways to be immersed in the festivities that depend on personal tastes. People are mostly busy day and night with pandal hopping. There are some others who participate in walking/boat tours, feast on bhog, café-crawl, and attend fairs.  Dandiya nights, Navaratra activities, nightclub parties, friendly meets, or family-get-togethers. It is almost a race to see as many Durgas as possible, to critique the art and soak in the ambiance.

With the recent rainfall, several puja pandals have been affected. It indicates a good idea to make sure that you are safe while pandal hopping. Transportation and many businesses, too, have been affected severely due to the massive rains. Therefore, you need to be patient while getting food and transportation.

Best of Barowari Puja

Barowari is derived from baro (twelve) and yaari (friends), coined after the twelve friends who came together to create Kolkata’s first community Durga Puja. Today, most barowari clubs are renowned for the artful displays and tableaus they mount. They are considered the centrepiece of the city’s all-night Pujo revelry. While some Bariwalis do not deviate from this tradition, like (Bagbazar Sarbojonin, Ballygunge Cultural). There are others who innovate yearly, addressing social causes, paying tributes to luminaries, or expressing themselves through satire. Ideally, it’s common to see pandals on one side of the city in one day. If you are pressed for time, take a Pujo tour that will include only the highlights. As a longtime Pujo enthusiast, here is a list of community Pujos that should be on your radar.

Here is an overview of some of the best Durga Puja Pandals to visit in Kolkata this year.

North Kolkata

Tala Prattay: Curated by Bhabatosh Sutar, the pandal explores the concept of the seed as a symbol of civilisation.

Bagbazar Sarbojonin: This pandal showcases the sabeki style of idol, which employs a classic and simpler design.

Kashi Bose Lane: A tribute to noted writer Leela Mazumdar and her works.

Chaltabagan Sarbojonin: This one is an homage to the linguistic history of Bangla.

Hatibagan Sarbojanin: Celebrates the goddess in all her enigmatic glory.

South Kolkata

Ballygunge Cultural Association: In its 75th year, the pandal is celebrating its own legacy through the theme ‘protha’ (custom).

Tridhar Sammilani: Curated by Myna Mukherjee from Engendered, an arts organisation, this year’s display is inspired by shakti traditions.

Hindustan Park Sarbojanin: A tribute to the tribes and villages of Bengal.

Kendua Shanti Sangha: The pandal is famous for a floating Durga idol.

Naktala Udayan Sangha: The display uses water to make a social and artistic statement.

East Kolkata

Sreebhumi: Décor that recreates the famed Swaminarayan Temples.

Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra: A phenomenal fusion of light, sound, and metallic décor.

AK Block, Salt Lake: Inspired by the life and works of director and thinker Ritwik Ghatak.

33 Pally: A sociopolitical tableau that highlights the material necessities of the world in food, shelter, and clothing.

New Town Sarbojanin: Décor made from beautiful shiuli (jasmine) and kash phool (kans grass).

West Kolkata

Behala Young Men’s Association: A vision in woodcuts and woodwork.

Barisha Club: A philosophical display about being and nothingness.

Alipore Sarbojanin: Celebrates the old cultural icons and the lost maestros of Kolkata.

Haridevpur 41 Pally Club: The theme circles around the different stages of life.

Behala Notun Dol: In their 60th year, they have created Shibani Dham, a display inspired by famous temple architectures.

Best of Bonedi Bari Pujo

Away from the community pandals, Kolkata’s aristocratic families organise Pujo celebrations (bonedi bari pujo) that go all the way back to colonial times or even further. Over the generations, these families have preserved the grand pageantry and the familial warmth of their Pujo festivities inside their sprawling heritage homes. The evolution of Durga Puja in Kolkata is inextricably connected to some of the age-old traditions started by these famous families. Here are a few bonedi baris not to be missed:

Barisha Roy Bari: This Behala puja is one of the oldest Durga Pujas from Kolkata (400 years old, as per lore). The thakur dalan (where the goddess is kept) is massive, the rituals are ancient, and the family’s history is tied with the city intimately for the last few hundred years.

Bhowanipore Mallick Bari: The 200-year-old Mallick Bari Puja blends its imposing heritage with South Kolkata’s calmer vibe.

Sovabazar Rajbari: This is a must-see royal puja, just beside Sovabazar Metro Station, started in 1757 by Raja Nabakrishna Deb.

Pathuriaghata Khelat Ghosh Bari: Known for its elaborate rituals and opulent settings, this Pujo credits its beginnings to Ramlochan Ghosh, Warren Hastings’ personal secretary, and can be traced back to 1782.

Baghbazar Haldar Bari: With more than 450 years of history, this Pujo has a pristine idol crafted from touchstone, usually only seen in great museums or art spaces.

Here’s a table of some of the best Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata for 2025, with themes, locations and highlights

Here’s a table of some of the best Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata for 2025, with themes, locations, highlights, and tips. If you like, I can also map them for you or suggest a route for pandal-hopping.

Frequently asked Questions

1.      Which are the must-visit Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata this year?

2.      What is the best time to visit pandals in Kolkata?

3.      How can I cover multiple pandals in one day?

4.      Are there eco-friendly or unique themed pandals to look out for?