West Bengal is an excellent state in festivals, culture, dress, and way of life. This area has been celebrated in a variety of photography and print media. One of the qualities that distinguish the state and makes it worthwhile to come is the abundance of celebrations and Festival of West Bengal.
Some well-known festival Of West Bengal
West bengal is the famous tourist place to visit in India. Here is the some most important festival of west Bengal.
1. Saraswati Puja
This festival of West Bengal takes place between January and February. On this day, Bengalis hold a particular site. They feel that this day is auspicious for education and other learning-related activities. It is seen as a perfect time for their children to begin their academic studies. Girls dress up in bright saris and visit the beautifully decked Goddess Saraswati puja pandals on this day.
2. Durga Puja
This festival of West Bengal takes place throughout September and October. Durga Puja is one of West Bengal’s most significant celebrations. The large-scale celebration that takes place during the festival is well-known around the world. Offering prayers to the Goddess Durga, celebrations, feasts, dance, theatre, and music are all part of this festival of West Bengal. People dress up in fresh, colorful outfits on this auspicious day. They pay respect to the ten-armed goddess Durga by visiting puja pandals of various communities. Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, and Kartikeya are all ornated and ornamented in the pandals. Priests perform the prayers at predetermined times while devotees visit pandals throughout the day.
3. Lakshmi Puja
In October, the Bengalis celebrate Lakshmi Puja, another important festival of West Bengal. It is enthusiastically and passionately commemorated across the state. During this festival, people worldwide travel to the state to take part in this grand celebration. Vijay Dashmi celebrates Lakshmi Puja a week later. People pay their respects and gratitude to Maa Lakshmi, revered as the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. The festival of lights is known as Lakshmi Pooja. People celebrate this festival of West Bengal at home by having a priest perform all of the rites or performing them themselves. Prayers are said for their homes to be blessed with success and wealth.
4. Puja of Kali
Another notable celebration in West Bengal is Kali Puja, which takes place in October or November. This is a multi-day festival of West Bengal that lasts approximately twenty days. It occurs following Durga Puja. It is one of Kolkata’s most significant celebrations, aside from Durga Puja. In honor of Goddess Kali, the Kali Puja celebration is held. It is distinguished by the nighttime chanting of mantras that lasts until sunrise. The Goddess is adorned with lovely hibiscus garlands. All sacred mantra chanting takes place in the presence of the holy fire. Sweets, lentils, and rice are some of the offerings made to the Goddess by devotees.
5. Id-Ul-Fitr
Another important festival of West Bengal is Eid. Muslims in the state primarily observe it. The date of this festival’s occurrence is unknown. In May, Id-Ul-Fitr is observed. It occurs after the fortunate Ramzan month has ended. After a month of fasting and prayer, this feast commemorates the beginning of the joyful fellowship. After 70 days of this holiday, Muslims celebrate Eid-al-Juha, another prominent Muslim feast. This festival of West Bengal is observed throughout the state, but particularly so in West Bengal. Non-Muslims and Muslims alike flock to the Kolkata Maidan to see and participate in this festivity.
6. Dol Purnima
Another festival of West Bengal observed in West Bengal under a different name is “DolPurnima.” The Holi celebration is celebrated in Bengali. Dol Purnima is a solemn occasion followed by both men and women. The statues of Krishna and Radha are placed on an attractively ornamented palanquin and paraded through the hamlet or city’s main streets. The pupil’s attire themselves in pristine white or saffron-colored clothing in the early morning of Dol Purnima day. They also have fresh flower garlands on their heads. Everyone takes full advantage of the opportunity by singing and dancing to the beats of musical instruments.
7. Poush Sankranti
It is known as “Poush Sankranti” in West Bengal. The festival of West Bengal’s name comes from the Bengali month “Poush.” This is the month in which the harvest celebration is held. Paddy that has just been harvested and date palm syrup, known as Pataliand Khejurer Gur, makes a wide range of traditional Bengali sweets. Coconut, rice flour, date palm jaggery, and milk are used to make these treats.
8. Jagannath Rath Yatra
In West Bengal, the Jagannath Rath Yatra is the most famous festival of West Bengal. Since 1396, West Bengal has practiced the Jagannath Rath Yatra worship. Kolkata, Mayapur in Nadia, Mahesh in Hooghly, and Mahisadal in East Midnapore districts host a week-long celebration with ceremonial Rath Yatras. The Jagannath idol, along with the standards of Balaram and Subhadra, is put atop the 50-foot-high chariot, which weighs around 125 tonnes, on the day of the Ratha Yatra, the festival of West Bengal.
9. Poila Boishakh
Poila Boishakh, also known as the Bengali New Year, is a critical period in every Bengali’s life and one of Bengal’s most renowned and cherished festivals of West Bengal. Poila Boishakh marks the start of a new year, a new beginning, for every Bengali home and is thus widely observed. Exquisite dishes are cooked, fresh clothes are worn, and families gather to greet one another. This festival of West Bengal is especially significant for Bengali businesses and traders because it represents the start of a new and prosperous year for them. They usually open a new accounting book on this day — a ritual known as ‘Hal Khata.’
10. Muharram
In the Islamic calendar, the Day of Ashura falls on the tenth day of Muharram. It commemorates Muharram, but not the Islamic month of Muharram. The ancient Jewish feast day of Ashura was a day of joy and atonement. It is currently best recognized for commemorating the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, the Islamic prophet Muhammad’s grandson, at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680). Moses fasted on this day, according to Sunni Muslims, to show his gratitude to God.
Conclusion:
Life in West Bengal is full of zeal and pleasure. It’s a fantastic sight to see all of the diverse colors, energy, and beauty that festival of West Bengal has to offer. Learning about them can help you understand how important they are in a Bengali household. These festivals of West Bengal are only another manifestation of the people’s never-ending and eternal spirit.
