Tuesday, Sep 23, 2025 22:15 [IST]
Last Update: Monday, Sep 22, 2025 16:48 [IST]
DARJEELING, : The festive feel of the pujas can already be felt here with one of the oldest pujas in the hills being officially inaugurated at Nipendra Narayan Bengali Hindu Hall (NNBHH).
Celebrating its 111th year, the puja was inaugurated Sunday evening virtually by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with 13 other pujas across Darjeeling district.
“This year, we are planning to conduct the immersion of the idol using the toy train, for which we have already held discussions with the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR). Another special attraction is that, for the first time, we are featuring women dhol players from Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas. In addition, there will also be a performance by a tribal troupe from Naxalbari,” said Subasish Sengupta, a member of the NNBHH Durga Puja organizing committee.
The immersion procession will begin from the NNBHH hall located at Chandmari. Following age-old tradition, the idol will be carried on a bamboo structure and taken around the town to the railway station. From there, it will be transported to Bangla Khola at Rangbull for immersion in an open coach of the DHR. Historically, the idol was also brought to Darjeeling on the DHR, having first arrived from Krishnanagar near Kolkata to Siliguri, and then carried up by train. This will be the second time the DHR is being used for immersion, the first having been in 2014 during the centenary celebrations.
Although this puja is not held in a pandal, the worship at NNBHH remains immensely popular owing to its rich legacy, dating back to the British era. Built in 1890 as a recreational space primarily for the Bengali community, the hall has become a cultural hub over the years. The puja today is cherished by people across communities, who flock to the temple. One of its biggest attractions remains the “bhog,” a tradition from its earliest days, which draws large crowds. Visitors often take some home to share with those who cannot attend in person.
Meanwhile, the Chowrasta Durga Puja, now in its eighth year, also began today. Organized by the Chowrasta Durga Puja Committee, the event primarily aims to engage tourists visiting Darjeeling during the festive season. Organizers said they wanted tourists to experience the joy of Durga Puja even while away from home.
