By Bengali Association

Copyright thehindu

The festive season has arrived with the sound of conch shells, the fragrance of incense and the anticipation of community gatherings. Durga Puja pandals are getting ready across the city, each carrying memories of Bengal while finding a place in the local landscape. Families come together for rituals, bhog and cultural evenings that keep traditions alive away from their origins. Alongside, Navratri thalis at city hotels showcase how fasting cuisine can be both inventive and rooted in heritage. Here is a look at the Durga Puja celebrations and Navratri dining events unfolding across Visakhapatnam this season.

Bengali Association Thompson Street

Visakhapatnam’s oldest Durga Puja celebration, hosted by the Bengali Association Thompson Street, continues its long-standing tradition with devotion and cultural fervour. This year, the celebrations are set at Rani Chandramani Function Hall, Shri Seetaramachandra Swamivari Devasthanam, Jagadamba Junction. Beginning on September 28, the five days of rituals and community gatherings will include pushpanjali, bhog distribution and a series of cultural programmes. The final day will conclude with the sindur utsav, where women partake in the ritual of smearing vermilion before the idol is carried for immersion. This puja binds the Bengali community in the city with shared customs and memory.

Waltair Kalibari

The Waltair Kalibari is both a spiritual sanctuary and a cultural anchor for the Bengali community in Visakhapatnam. This year marks the 65th year of the Sarbojanin and ECo Railway Durga Puja Committee’s celebrations. Commencing on September 27, the festivities open with a performance of dance and drama. The scale and inclusivity of the puja have made it a point of connection between the Bengali diaspora and the wider city. On Ashtami and Navami, professional artistes from Kolkata and Mumbai will bring performances that extend the celebrations into the realm of cultural fervour. Bhog prasad will be served to devotees on September 29, 30, and October 1.

Utsab Cultural Association

The Utsab Cultural Association has, over the years, carved out its own presence in the city’s festive calendar. From September 28 to October 2, Amcosa Hall at Maharanipeta will transform into a hub of music, prayer and community bonding. A highlight of this celebration is the Sandhi puja on Ashtami, observed this year between 1.21pm and 4.09pm, a time considered auspicious. Beyond rituals, the puja venue will come alive with food stalls that line the entrance, adding colour and bustle to the festive evenings. Mahabhog, sandhya arati and cultural performances form the core of the programme.

West Visakha Cultural Association

In Sriharipuram, the West Visakha Cultural Association marks one of the newest additions to the city’s festive landscape. The puja commences on September 27 with Devi Bodhan, a ritual that welcomes the Goddess. Nearly 100 Bengali families participate in this close-knit celebration, which has grown steadily over recent years. The scale is modest when compared to older associations, but the intimacy of the rituals and cultural programmes reflects a homely spirit. For many families, this puja represents a way of preserving cultural roots in a city far from Bengal.

Crafting the idol

The heart of every Bengali Durga Puja lies in the idol and Visakhapatnam’s pandals are a reflection of this. Each year, skilled artisans travel from West Bengal to craft the idols entirely from clay, following a tradition that is centuries old. The process is intricate, beginning with straw frames and culminating in detailed sculpting and painting. The clay is moulded to represent the goddess in her many forms, with expressions that convey both strength and grace. These craftsmen bring with them techniques passed down through generations, and their work ensures that the icons worshipped here are linked directly to the cultural heartland of Bengal.

Navratri thali at Novotel

While the Bengali community celebrates Durga Puja with elaborate rituals, hotels across the city are marking Navratri with special dining experiences. At Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, the Indian speciality restaurant Zaffran has introduced a Navratri thali available until October 2. The thali is entirely vegetarian and tailored for both festive and fasting traditions. Among the dishes are Jimikand Ghee Adraki Kebab, Kacche Kele Ki Tikki, Sabudana Khichdi, and Samak Pulao, concluding with Makhana Kesar Kheer. Priced at ₹1299 plus taxes, the thali is served for both lunch and dinner, bringing together seasonal ingredients and recipes associated with the nine days of observance.

WelcomHotel Devee Grand Bay

WelcomHotel Devee Grand Bay has curated a Navratri thali at WelcomCafe Oceanic, also available for both lunch and dinner. Priced at ₹899 plus taxes, the thali will include Shakarkandi Chaat, Sagu Peanut Pulao, Saufiyani Kaddu, Dahi wala Arbi, Kuttu Puri and Sabudana Kheer. It is designed to balance traditional fasting requirements with regional flavours.