The festivals of West Bengal include the diverse cultures and traditions practiced in this eastern Indian state. Each festival is celebrated at different times with precise rituals, which are related to the festivals. There are some major festivals in this state, which are celebrated with grand arrangements.
There are also some smaller festivals that are celebrated with equal importance Durga Puja, Nabo Borsho, Kali Puja, Jagadhatri Puja, Bhai Punta, Saraswati Puja, Rath Yatra, Dole Purnima are the major festivals of West Bengal. They are celebrated with very ritualistic grandeur.
These 10 Bengali festivals are discussed in detail below
1. Nobo Borsho
Nobo Borsho is the Bengali New Year of the Bengali community. This is an extremely joyous occasion, especially for Bengalis and traders.
This is a great time to visit temples and relatives, make offerings, buy new clothes, greet people, and more.
2. Dol Purnima
In West Bengal, the festival of Holi is celebrated as the “ Dol Utsav ”. Among many festivals in West Bengal, it is the most prominent.
The festival of Holi in this state is famous by other names – ‘Purna Purnima’, ‘Vasant Utsav’ and ‘Dol Yatra’.
The festival was started in this state by the world-famous poet Rabindranath Tagore at Vishwa Bharati University, in which he was a pioneer.
The people of the state not only welcome the spring season with colors and sweets, but also welcome bhajans and other devotional songs.
3. Rath Yatra
This is the birthday celebration of Lord Jagannath, who visits his maternal uncle’s house on this day with his chariot and returns after a week.
The most famous Rath Yatra in West Bengal is Mahesh’s Rath Yatra at Serampore.
It attracts millions of tourists from across the state as well as the entire country. This day is considered a very auspicious day and it marks the beginning of the sowing season for the monsoon harvest across eastern India. Grand fairs are held all over the state, known as the ‘Rather Mela’.
4. Janmashtami
Janmashtami is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal in West Bengal, which symbolizes the birth of Lord Krishna’s love.
This festival of West Bengal falls on the day of Ashtami in the month of Shravan according to the Hindu calendar.
In the Krishna temples, ‘Raslila’ is performed to recreate events from Krishna’s life and to celebrate his love for Radha.
5. Rakhi Purnima
It is one of the popular festivals of West Bengal and is a symbol of love and affection between brothers and sisters.
On this special day, the sisters tie a colorful bandage on their brothers’ wrists, believing that it will bring peace, success, and good health to their brother’s life throughout the year.
The brothers also vow on their behalf to save their sister from all the crises. They also give some gifts to their sisters as tokens of love.
6. Durga Puja
The Bengalis believe that with the arrival of Goddess Durga, Kailash will bring prosperity among all the people of West Bengal with her maternal children.
Durga Puja is celebrated here for five days – Saptami, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami.
It is believed that Devi-Durga will return to Kailash on Dashami after slaying the demon-Mahisasura. Therefore, Goddess Durga is worshiped as ‘Mahishasuramardini’.
7. Kali Puja
Homes and temples throughout the state are vibrantly decorated and lit with oil lamps, candles, or ‘Diyas’.
All the family members gather in the evening to burst firecrackers together during Kali Puja.
Goddess Kali is worshiped during ‘Amavasya’.
‘Bhoot Chaturdashi’ is performed one day before Kali Puja, when 14 diyas are lit in each Bengali house together and they also consume 14 types of leafy vegetables. ‘Bhoot Chaturdashi’ is considered a powerful day for souls.
8. Jagadhatri Puja
This festival is celebrated in the Bengali month of Kartik or the English month of November in a very fun and adorable manner.
During this puja, one is decorated with huge pandals to worship the goddess Jagadhatri at Chandannagar in the Hooghly district of the state; Other regions of West Bengal also celebrate this festival.
9. Saraswati Puja
It is one of the most devotional festivals in West Bengal, where Goddess Saraswati is worshiped. The worship of Goddess Saraswati begins in the morning with the chanting of ‘Aarti’ and various ‘Mantras’.
This festival is celebrated in all schools and colleges and the youth can be seen participating in the puja with great enthusiasm.
10. Christmas
The celebration of Christmas in the City of Joy continues until the New Year. During this time, parts of Kolkata, particularly the Park Street area, have been decorated with Christmas trees and lights.
A winter carnival is also held in Kolkata at this time; People also come to church.
