Durga Puja in Full Swing with a pre puja private preview :)

Ok so i shouldn't say pre puja preview since this was two days ago, but today is the start of Durga puja and Calcutta is lit up to make time square look amateur. I will take pics and post them as we go along. For Kolkata and its people this is larger than Christmas and with gifts and food and every business closed for the next few days its time to celebrate. Of course the last time I was here for puja was over 20 something years ago and I don't remember anything so this is my time to explore and enjoy.

Statues and alters built just for this occasion is billions of dollars in business and from homes to major venues will have a Durga statue. Our neighbors actually have their own puja so two days ago when they received their statue, I was invited to have a private viewing.

In most cases Durga is placed above a lion but in old tradition, I have been informed that the animal was actually a cross between a lion and a horse so some of the oldest puja statues will have the old version of the animal like my neighbors. Oh and I have been invited to have lunch and dinner there everyday but will see how long I last on vegie food.

Anyway where are some images from the private puja in oldest tradition. These statues are the result of months of hand work and thousands of rupees. Everyone takes pride in the grandness of their puja and some of these statues are up to 12 feet and higher. Will post those images when I see them on our evening outings.

This is the first set. Its all about color, bling, jewelry, grandness, rich silk and other excessive decorations and a few days of family fun :).