Durga Puja, the season of dhaak and dhunuchi is one of the most-awaited festivals for Bengalis to celebrate the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasur. This five to six days long festivity involve pandal hopping, hogging on street food, adda and watching cultural shows.
However, this year due to the pandemic, things were different as mass gathering was not allowed. Although there were a few Durga Puja pandals around the city, but it was best to stay at home and take care of our health.
Durga Puja is more than just a festival for Bengalis—it’s a state of mind. Even if we can’t go pandal hopping this year, we can still bring the spirit of Pujo into our homes. A few years ago, I wrote an article sharing 10 things I love about Durga Puja, where I described all the activities that make these six festive days so special. This year, we plan to recreate that magic at home.
Pujo Mornings
For the next six days, we made it a ritual to dress up in our Pujo outfits and have a mini photo session. We ordered our clothes online, and to make it even more fun, I asked my sister and mom to pick out an outfit for me (mostly T-shirts, of course).
Durga Pujo Special Breakfast
Some days, we had fruits and sweets for breakfast to recreate the experience of receiving them as prasad after Pushpanjali. For those unfamiliar, Pushpanjali is a ritual performed throughout the day during Durga Puja, where devotees offer flowers and prayers to the Goddess to seek her blessings. And on other days, we indulged in breakfast dishes like burgers and cutlets.
Homemade Pujo Bhog for Lunch
For lunch, my mom prepared a bhog-style meal at home, with dishes like Khichdi and Labra Torkari (mixed vegetables) for Shoshti, and Paneer and Pulao for Ashtami. Each day, we picked a different menu, and for Navami, we recreated a traditional Navratri thali. After those hearty meals, we slept like babies!
Pujo Evenings
In the evenings, we gathered for adda sessions followed by some fun games. It was also the perfect time to connect with our extended family over video calls and enjoy some quality time together.
Most days, we played Tambola, Ludo, and Pictionary, which was always a blast. Afterward, we indulged in delicious snacks that we ordered online—keeping things safe while recreating the festive vibe of our Pujo evenings.
We treated ourselves to kebabs, Kathi Rolls, Kosha Mangsho with Luchi, Kolkata Biryani, Chinese platters, and Shawarma. Additionally, we watched the Sandhya Aarti online and danced to some Durga Puja songs. Here’s a playlist for you to enjoy!
At night, we unwind with a classic Bengali movie. We made a list of films we wanted to watch prior to Durga Puja and enjoyed them after with a bowl of Act II popcorn. Here’s a list of Bengali films we watched during Durga Puja.
As I mentioned earlier, Durga Puja is more than just a festival—it’s a feeling that can be experienced anywhere, whether in a pandal or at home. During the pandemic, we made the most of our Pujo celebrations at home. How did you celebrate your Pujo during the pandemic? Let me know in the comments. 🙂
Now that the pandemic is behind us and we’re free to explore again, here’s a complete guide to experiencing Durga Puja celebrations at C.R. Park.
