Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Rajasthan’s Gangaur Inspires Kolkata Puja’s 90th Durga Celebration
Shibmandir Sarbojanin is preparing for its 90th Durga Puja.
This year, its theme comes from Gangaur, a festival from Rajasthan.
Gangaur celebrates Gauri, a form of the divine feminine.
It is held in the month of Chaitra to welcome spring.
A special Gangaur procession includes five decorated idols.
These represent Gauri, two kings and two queens.
The organizers believe Gangaur and Durga Puja both bring people together through faith, art and celebration.
The theme was created by Prasant Pal, with an idol by Tapan Majhi and lighting by Premendu Bikash Chaki.
Shibmandir Sarbojanin will celebrate its 90th Durga Puja with a Gangaur-inspired theme.
Gangaur is a traditional Rajasthani festival centered on Gauri, a manifestation of the divine feminine and Shakti.
Its processions feature five decorated idols: Gauri, two kings and two queens, carried on women’s heads.
The puja organizers see shared connections between Gangaur and Bengal’s celebrations of Shakti, community and culture.
Prasant Pal conceptualized the theme, Tapan Majhi created the idol and Premendu Bikash Chaki designed the lighting.
- Who
- Shibmandir Sarbojanin, with contributions from Prasant Pal, Tapan Majhi and Premendu Bikash Chaki.
- What
- The puja committee is staging its 90th Durga Puja around a theme inspired by Rajasthan’s Gangaur festival.
- When
- Ahead of Mahalaya, which is less than a month away; Gangaur itself is celebrated during Chaitra.
- Where
- Shibmandir Sarbojanin in Kolkata, drawing inspiration from Rajasthan and Bengal.
- Why
- To highlight shared traditions of devotion, the divine feminine, community, art and cultural celebration.
- Event
- Shibmandir Sarbojanin’s 90th Durga Puja
- Theme
- Gangaur, the traditional festival of Rajasthan
- Central figure
- Gauri, a manifestation of the divine feminine and a form of Shakti
- Gangaur procession
- Five decorated idols: Gauri, two kings and two queens
- Theme conceptualization
- Prasant Pal
- Idol creator
- Tapan Majhi
- Lighting designer
- Premendu Bikash Chaki