Bagbazar is the cradle of revolution. Even before the formal rituals commence, the puja pandal begins to attract visitors, and by Sasthi, the crowds in and around the Bagbazar Sarbojanin pandal are a spectacle to behold.
This is one of the oldest and most revered Durga Pujas in North Kolkata, and the traditional pandal draws people from across the city and nearby districts of West Bengal. In keeping up with their tradition, from the pandal to the idol, the Bagbazar Sarbojanin continues to maintain the same ritual and style each year.
Netaji’s connection to Bagbazar
According to history, this puja has received donations from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as well. In 2025, the puja will celebrate its 107th anniversary. Several well-known individuals were associated with the puja, including Netaji and Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das.
In the 1930s, the puja really began to take shape thanks to the efforts of Kolkata Municipal Corporation Alderman Durgacharan Bandyopadhyay and Mayor Subhas Chandra Bose. It had begun even earlier. Located at the intersection of Nebubagan Lane and Bagbazar Street at 55 Bagbazar Street, the puja was renamed the Nebubagan Barowari Durga Puja in 1919.
Though the venue has changed, the idol’s style remained the same. The big, beautiful idol of the goddess Durga is adorned in the classic daaker saaj, made of sola and silver foil. Devotees say one glimpse of this magnificent idol makes the visit worthwhile, makes people fulfilled with joy. Every year, the goddess appears with her daughters on either side and her sons below, all in shimmering white attire.
In Bengal’s Durga Puja, tradition and Bagbazar Sarbojanin seem inseparable. Amid the dominance of theme-based pujas, Bagbazar alone continues to uphold its aristocratic charm.
One highlight is the goddess’s crown. Earlier, it measured about 8.5 to 9 feet, but in recent years it has been made 10 feet tall, reinforced with iron wires.
The puja is also famous for its ‘Sindoor Khela’ on Dashami. Celebrities and commoners alike gather here to smear vermillion, bid farewell to the goddess, and celebrate with sweets and dance to the beat of the dhak.
