In a city where the nine nights of Navratri are marked by golu dolls, Durga Puja brings a different kind of celebration to the pandals, with the sound of conch shells, the beat of dhaak, sindoor and the aroma of freshly prepared khichuri. For Bengalis living in Chennai and elsewhere away from home, the festival is an emotion that brings a piece of Bengal to them.
From the sight of kash phool swaying in the autumn breeze and the sound of the dhaak to the steaming plates of basonti polao, crispy beguni, kathi rolls, and Kolkata biriyani, every little detail brings Bengal closer to home. Add mishti doi, adda with friends and the excitement of dressing up in new clothes for the four days, too. From Saptami to Dashami (October 18 to 21), the celebrations bring together rituals, food and festivities.
The Bengal Association, T Nagar
File photo of Durga puja pandal at Bengal Association, T Nagar
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Tracing its roots to 1929, the Bengal Association has been celebrating Durga Puja since the early 1930s, bringing generations of Bengali families together at its premises on Giri Road, T Nagar. The idol isan ekchala structure (where all deities are housed under a single arch/chalchitra) adorned in traditional saaj (intricate silver foil and embossed ornament work). Visitors can witness the sacred rituals: Pushpanjali, morning prayers, followed by community maha bhog (khichuri, labra, payesh) served during Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami afternoons.
“An important part of our Durga Puja is anna daan (food donation). We distribute maha bhog free of cost to around 1,000 to 1,500 people every day during the four days of Puja. We also distribute clothes at ashrams and orphanages,” says Tarun Kumar Das, secretary of the Bengal Association, Chennai.
During the four days of puja, in the evenings from 7.30pm onwards, various cultural programs are staged in the community auditorium. It starts with Anondomela, where ladies come with their home-made dishes , marking the beginning of Panchami, followed by Children’s performances, dances of various genres, Bengali drama by in-house members, and live music featuring contemporary Bangla and old Hindi melodies.
The food stalls will have Kolkata street-food favourites such as egg-chicken rolls, Mughlai paratha, bhetki fish fry, mutton cutlets, fish chops, and phuchka. Visitors can also tuck into Kolkata-style biryani, kosha mangsho, and katla kalia, while traditional breakfast options include luchi, radhaballabhi, and aloo dum. Sweet stalls will round off the spread with rosogolla, nolen gur sandesh, pantua and mishti doi, best enjoyed with a cup of bhaarer cha.
The Bengali Association Durga Puja is celebrated at 29 Giri Road (Old No. 29, New No. 65), T. Nagar, (Opposite Surya Sweets).
South Madras Cultural Association, Nandanam
File photo of Durga puja pandal at South Madras Cultural Association, Nandanam
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One of the largest in the city, the South Madras Cultural Association (SMCA), which started in Besant Nagar, has now shifted to Nandanam Extension. The Puja is said to have been started 48 years ago by a group of Bengalis and non-Bengalis. “For this year we have the theme pandal on Satyajit Ray’s Magical Creation, where we are paying homage to him through his films,” says Prodyot Bowmick, president, SMCA. Throughout the four days, there will be Gombhira performances (a traditional folk dance) by artistes from Kolkata. On 19 October 9pm onwards will be Dandiya and Garba night.
The event will feature nearly 50 stalls, offering a taste of Kolkata’s street food alongside stalls selling saris, handicrafts and other traditional products.
South Madras Cultural Association (SMCA) Durga puja is celebrated in Mantra Gardens, Nandanam (beside Kotturpuram bridge), Chennai.
Dakshini Society Welfare Association (DSWA), Anna Nagar
File photo of Durga puja pandal at Dakshini Society Welfare Association (DSWA), Anna Nagar
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At Dakshini Society Welfare Association (DSWA), which has organised Durga Puja since 1995, this year’s pandal draws on traditional Bengali handicrafts and art forms, including Madhubani and patachitra paintings alongside talpatar pakha (palm-leaf fans), lal gamcha (red towels), kulo (winnowing baskets) and karis. Curated by Nadia-based entrepreneur Anjali Biswas, the decor brings a touch of rural Bengal to Chennai.
“Our cultural programmes are the heart of the puja. They bring together our children, youth, and elders,” says Subir Kumar Shaw, president of DSWA. The five-day celebrations will feature two Bengali plays, Ballavpurer Rajbari and Ostader Mar Sesh Rate, the children’s dance drama Sitaharan Porbo and the devotional production Sambahabani Yuge Yuge.
Food is also central to the festivities, with six stalls serving Bengali specialities and Chinese fare, chaat, ghugni, alur chop, pakoras, lassi, and Bengali sweets.
The Dakshini Society Welfare Association (DSWA) 32nd Durga Puja will take place at the BSNL Community Hall, located in Anna Nagar, Chennai
Anya Mukh, Chromepet
File photo of Durga puja pandal at Anya Mukh, Chromepet
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For Anya Mukh, a Chennai-based Bengali drama and cultural group that began in 2022, Durga Puja is an opportunity to bring Bengal’s artistic traditions and mythology to the city. Now in its third year of organising the festival, the group’s theme this year, Sati’r Dehtyag O Shakti Peeth (Sati’s sacrifice and the creation of the Shakti Peethas), traces the mythological story of Goddess Sati and the origins of the sacred sites across the Indian subcontinent.
The celebrations will feature a Durga idol crafted by Nabadwip-based clay artist Ramesh Pal, with artisans from Krishnanagar creating the thematic decorations and installations. “For us, Durga Puja is not just about the celebrations; it is about bringing people together and creating a home away from home, where we can keep our traditions alive and share them with the wider community,” says Atri Kumaar Sinha, president of Anya Mukh.
The Durga Puja is located at Sri Padma Ram Ganesh Mahal, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, Nehru Nagar, Chromepet
The Dakshin Chennai Prabashi Cultural Association (DCPCA), OMR
File photo of Durga puja pandal at the Dakshin Chennai Prabashi Cultural Association (DCPCA), OMR
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The Dakshin Chennai Prabashi Cultural Association (DCPCA) brings together Bengali families and others with a connection to Bengal for its annual Durga Puja celebrations. “We started in 2014, and since then the association has grown from a small group of 20 to 30 people to a community of over 300 members,” says Jaypal Menon, secretary of DCPCA. The festivities will feature cultural programmes, including performances by the family of the members across generations. This year the theme celebrates the traditional beauty of dak er aaaj, with Goddess Durga and her children adorned in white crowns, jewellery, and embellishments handcrafted from natural shola pith. The backdrop draws inspiration from the paintings of Jamini Roy.
Food stalls will include Kolkata-style biriyani, varieties of chops (cutlets), Kolkata street-style Chinese, chaats, and Bengali sweets.
The DCPCA Durga Puja is located at Ilara Hotel grounds, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, behind Geetham Restaurant, Navalur.
