Top Durga Puja Pandals to Visit in 2025
Another fortnight and “Ma” will be here. Goddess Durga – the mother, the warrior, and for millions of Bengalis, the daughter who comes to her parents’ home with her four children for five days every year, before leaving her husband’s abode in the Himalayas again – is getting set for her yearly sojourn, capturing the Festival Spirit of India and becoming a highlight even in National News India during this grand celebration.
The bigger pandals are already halfway through, while the smaller neighbourhood ones have also started taking shape. Like every year, most community pujas chose their names by Rath Yatra, when Khuti Puja – worshipping the ‘khuti’ (the first bamboo pole of the pandal) – was done. And as usual, from celebrated temples to deep, celebrated themes, you can expect to see all of them on the streets of Kolkata in another two weeks’ time.
So, let’s see which pandal is offering what this time. Here are the top theme pandals that are sure to be crowd-pullers in Kolkata during Durga Puja 2025.
Sreebhumi Sporting Club: Swaminarayan Akshardham temple of New Jersey, USA
If you have never been to the US but always had the desire to visit the famous Akshardham temple, then this is your golden chance at least to see the replica. Sreebhumi Sporting Club, one of the biggies among Kolkata’s Durga Puja, is recreating the milky-white structure at its Lake Town address this year.
The structure has already taken shape, and even the carvings on the outer façade are prominently visible. It is likely to be a stunner all right, considering Sreebhumi’s reputation. So don’t miss a glimpse of New Jersey’s Akshardham temple at Srebhmit this year!
Santosh Mitra Square: Operation Sindoor
How can Kolkata Durga Puja miss the theme of Operation Sindoor this year? And it was none other than Santosh Mitra Square, another giant among Kolkata puja clubs, that has emulated this theme. The military operation that came as India’s answer to the Pahalgam attack has left 26 people dead, making it a talking point across the city as significant as the progress of Kolkata’s East–West Metro.
An animated graphic on the club’s Facebook page shows a cave in a mountainside peppered with pines, with the Goddess presumably seated inside the cave. This year’s theme will surely go big on lights and special effects to bring the message of Operation Sindoor to pandal-hoppers.
So, make sure you head for Lebutala without fail this year too.
Ekdalia Evergreen Club: Tamil Nadu’s Arunachaleswarar Temple
Ekdalia Evergreen Club, a famed name in South Kolkata, is recreating the revered Arunachaleswarar Temple located in the foothills of Annamalai hill in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. The pandal ha already taken shape prominently and much of the illumination is also in place, while the “Chakshudaan” (ritual of painting the eyes of the idol) has been done. So do remember to head for Gariahat crossing during the Pujas for a slice of Tamil Nadu in Kolkata this year.
64 Pally: Chamundeshwari Devi temple of Mysuru
64 Pally, another well-known name of south Kolkata, 64 Pally has come up with the theme of the Shree Chamundeshwari Devi temple of Mysuru, Karnataka. The gorgeous temple is one of the Shakti Peethas, and a pandal modelled after it seems like a fitting abode for Goddess Durga to arrive at.
This puja is located in the corner of a lane about 700 metres from the Rashbehari crossing. So, along with big names such as Badamtala Ashar Sangha and Deshpriya Park, do peep in to check out the 64 Pally puja this year.
Jagat Mukherjee Park: Is Artificial Intelligence a blessing or a curse?
With the entire world asking this question, how can this question be far away from popping up at Kolkata’s Durga Puja? Jagat Mukherjee Park, located in Sobvabazar is known to come up with unique and challenging themes every year. This year, they have decided to tackle the burning question: Is AI a blessing or a curse?
Fittingly, the club has released a digital banner on Facebook. While it is not yet clear what exactly the pandal will depict and what it will look like, the theme will surely resonate with the youth. So, drop in at Jagat Mukherjee Park to find out more.
