Durga Puja 2026: The Hands Behind the Celebration

Durga Puja is one of Bengal’s most celebrated festivals, honoring Goddess Durga and symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. At the heart of Kolkata’s festivities lies Kumartuli, a historic neighborhood where generations of skilled artisans bring the goddess to life through intricate clay sculptures. Months before the festival, its narrow lanes come alive with creativity as artisans transform clay, straw, and bamboo into magnificent idols that become the centerpiece of Durga Puja celebrations.

Across the city, elaborate temporary structures known as pandals are built to house these idols. The pandals are extraordinary expressions of art, architecture, and storytelling, often exploring themes of mythology, culture, social issues, and contemporary life.

I had the chance to experience Durga Puja in Kolkata for the first time this year, and photographing it pushed me outside my creative comfort zone in the best possible way.

The sheer amount of activity, movement, and energy around me felt overwhelming at times. I realized early on that instead of putting pressure on myself to capture something at every location we visited, I needed to trust my instincts and follow what naturally caught my attention. For me, that meant the experience became less about documenting everything I saw and more about finding moments that resonated with me amid the chaos.

Looking back through my images, I noticed a common thread. In a festival where creativity is everywhere, I found myself especially drawn to the people behind it all. The artists imagining, creating, and bringing their ideas to life. Whether it was the intricate work happening in the lanes of Kumartuli or the process of building the elaborate pandals, I kept gravitating toward moments that revealed the work, thought, and craftsmanship behind the finished creations.