The popular proverb ‘Bangalir Baro Mashe Tero Parban’ literally meaning 13 festivals in 12 months perhaps falls short to narrate the number of fairs and festivals the people of this state celebrate.

Irrespective of cast, creed and religion, people from all walks of life and all over the world come together to submerge themselves in the joviality of these festivities.

Every district, sect and community of West Bengal celebrate a ceremony unique to them. More or less the gaiety and euphoria continues throughout the year bolstering the fact, ‘Hujugey Bangali’.

Poila Baishakh/Nabo Borsho – The festivities commence in West Bengal from the very first day of a Bengali calendar year. The first day of first month i.e. Baishakh (mid-April) is an occasion to celebrate for all Bengalees and traders in particular.

Opening of Halkhata ( new accounts book opening), offerings at temples, people in new clothes visiting decorated shops, cultural programs, adda sessions and eating out mark the day.

Akshay Tritiya- After Poila Boisakh, Akshay Tritiya is one of the most auspicious day to start a business as well as to perform the "HalKhata" or ceremony to start the new audit book is performed with the worship of Lord Ganesha & Devi Lakshmi.

Then traditional rituals are followed with welcoming customers & holding dinners. Sweets & Bengali New Year calendars are distributed to each guest. Many choose to perform the same rites & rituals on the holy day of "Akshay Tritiya".

According to other beliefs, this day marks the beginning of the "SatyaYug" the first of the four Yugs(eras)," Satya", "Treta", "Dwapar "& Kali."

Mahabir Jayanti ----A few days after Noboborsho, on Mahabir Jayanti, the birth anniversary of last and greatest Jain prophets, there are processions of the Svetamber Sect from Harrison Road to Kalakar Street, and of the Digambar Sect from Belgachaia to Baisakh Lane.

Rathayatra-Basically a Vaishnavite festival falling in June-July, rathayatra is celebrated with much fanfare in and around Kolkata. The processions of ISCKON in Kolkata and Mahesh in Serampore are the most popular.

Devotees throng to get a hold of the ropes to drag the sacred chariots with idols of dieties Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra as it is believed to be very auspicious, children also decorate their small raths with flowers and leaves.

Vishwakarma Pujo- Every year on this day of September, all the industrial houses, craftsmen, weavers, artists and whosoever professionally deal with any kind of tool or machinery worship the God of creation, Lord Viswakarma.

It’s a celebration time and welcome break for the workers as all the equipments and machineries are cleaned and painted and elaborate arrangements for feasts are also made. On this day even the sky is also touched by the festive mood as multi-coloured kites fly all over the horizon.

Mahalaya- On this holy day of "Mahalaya" all of Bengal wakes up to the early morning radio broadcast of ‘Mahishasur Mardini’ (Hymns and sloka-snippets by Birendrakrishna Bhadra) the splendid incantation of the arrival of Goddess Durga, along with her own illustrious family and their respective Vahanas.

It signifies the end of "Pitripakshya" and the beginning of the Holy " Debipakshya", a time for Brahmins to pay tribute to the deceased souls of their forefathers with the divine hymns chanted by the priests and the phenomenal bathing ceremony on the celestial Ghats of Mother Ganges. Over the years "Mahalaya" nestled in to most sentimental part of a Bengali heart.

Durga Pujo- The most important festival lasting for five days of September-October and longest vacations of West Bengal. Held in autumn, in the past era, it was organised and financed by the landlords and the business barons.

Today the celebration of Durga Pujo has stepped out of the threshold of Zamindars and Rajbaris and now seeped in to the form of ‘Sarbojonin Durgotsav’ or ‘Baroari Pujo’, contributed and participated by people from all strata of the society.

Lasting 5 days during September-October this commemorates the triumph of Goddess Durga over the evil Mahishasura and is celebrated with utmost excitement, pomp and grandeur and piety throughout the state.

This also depicts her annual visit to her parents place on earth along with her four children from her heavenly abode on Mount Kailas. Preparations start long before the festival.

This is the season for gifts, new clothes are purchased, shops overflow with the latest goods. People take to the streets to visit the thousands of puja pandals which spring virtually at every street corner.

The pandals, around 2000 in and around Kolkata only, mostly constructed on the lines of monuments and heritage buildings with innovative illuminations and Durga idols are works of exquisite art.

Commencing from Shasthi to Saptami, Ashtami and Nabami, the festivities come to an end with heavy hearts on Mahadashami, the 10th day when the images are carried in decorated carts or trucks in festive processions to be immersed in river Hooghly.

Lakshmi Pujo- In the month of October, five days after Mahadashami, on full moon, is the festivals of the Goddess of prosperity Laxmi who is worshipped daily in most Hindu household for the family's well-being.

After Durga departs for her mountain-abode Kailash, her daughter Lakshmi arrivesquietly in the sacred night of full moon, i.e, the Kojagori Purnima (as the traditional Hindu mythological rites have it).

In Bengal, Hindu women rigorously observe the various rites, rituals prayers for the arrival of Mahalakshmi, who is said to be the spouse of Lord Vishnu and the emblem of material wealth and prosperity.

She is the sublime Goddess bestowing wealth and yielding to the devotee to achieve a pure and pristine mind. Her mascot, the white owl as the myths have it, goes from house to house and reports back to the Goddess about the households in which people stay awake to greet her.

She is said to be fickle and whimsical (Chanchala) as the dice people gamble with, and pays visit only to families she is pleased with. Women in their households in Bengal paint her tiny feet from the front door to the place where her image is seated for worship.

The belief behind this has been that if her feet has been depicted in this way, she will be unable to leave the house she once enters. Public Pujas are performed in the same premises as for Durga Puja.

Besides being the proverbial Goddess of wealth and prosperity, the traditional people in Bengal regard Lakshmidevi also in terms of grace and feminine charm. It is in her memorium that daughters-in-law of Bengal are often referred to as "Gharer Lokkhi" (Wealth of the House)

 

Kali Puja- Approximately nineteen days of completion of the Durga Puja, the city gears up to celebrate another popular festival, the Kali Puja. Kali is worshipped as the Dark Goddess who destroys evil to preserve creation.

The image of Kali is bit frightening and usually shows her with holding a curved scimitar in one hand and the severed head of a demon in each of two hands, the fourth hand being raised in a gesture of reassurance also a garland of severed heads dangling from her neck.

She is seen standing on her foot on Lord Shiva's chest which makes her bite her projecting tongue in abashment.

She is the Goddess who symbolizes power and The puja actually takes place at midnight on the day of the new moon, the darkest day in the month of Kartik. During the Kali Puja all houses are lit up with candles decorated around the house.

Children and adults are seen to burst firecrackers and lighting multicoloured sprinkling crackers. Some households celebrate the ‘Dipanwita Lakshmi Puja’ on this day. Kali Puja also coincides with Diwali, the North Indian New Year, the festivals of lights.

 

Bhai Phonta- Bhai Phonta is a festival close to every Bengali especially the sisters. This festival or ritual is celebrated to strengthen the bond of brother-sister relationship and to continue the affection lifelong.

On this day sisters fast religiously from the morning till they apply the phonta (a mark of sandalwood paste mixed with early morning dew) to their brothers and pray for their safety, well being and prosperity.

Sisters invite brothers to their places and prepare many delicacies and the brothers in turn usher the sisters with gifts. As a consequence offices all over Bengal wear a deserted look on this day and by ten in the morning the sound of conch shell, laughter fill the air with happiness.

Jagaddhatri Pujo :-Jagaddhatri Pujo is another major festival among Bengalis and is celebrated amidst much jamboree in Chandannagar particularly.

Here the idols of Goddess of Jagaddhatri resting on a tiger believed to be another impression of the Mahashakti like Durga Kali or Chandi, are made very huge.

The major attraction of this puja is the electric illuminations which are constructed in huge shapes and sizes depicting current events in socio-political scenario, great personalities or just intricate designs.this is also a week long festival.

Christmas/ Bodo Din :-Though Christmas today can be referred to as a global festival but in Kolkata it is celebrated with a unique old time flavour specially by the handful members of the Anglo-Indian community, the cultural remnants of British reign.

The most remarkable aspect of this cross-cultural diffusion happens to be in the form of Christmas cakes, X-mas trees, X-mas choirs and musical concerts in and around the "City of Joy."

The city’s one of the main traffic arteries, Park Street is illuminated beautifully and the Kolkatans throng the thoroughfare to enjoy the onset of winter amidst parties and dinner in restaurants and clubs.

The best masses are at St. Paul's Cathedral, candle lit on this occasion, at St. Andrew's Kirk. Bakery houses make a big time by dishing out some out-of-the world cake and pastry preparations.

31st December/ New Year’s Day :-The people of Kolkata celebrate the last and first day of Christian calendar with equal grandeur and gaiety like rest of the world. From Christmas onwards population of West Bengal swing and sway in year ending festive mood.

Picnics are organized in the outskirts of the city and late-night parties in clubs, hotels, restaurants and private homes. Many manage to go to the races the next day in the afternoon-and the hangover continues till the first week of January in Kolkata. 

Saraswati Puja- The end of winter is heralded by the fresh, soothing airs of the month of "Falgun" bringing in the auspicious religious observance of “Sri Panchami” or "Saraswati Puja" in Bengal, to propitiate the Goddess of wisdom and the arts.

Saraswati Puja is a celebration rigorously observed in all schools, colleges and academic as well as cultural institutions all over Bengal, when all sacred books of learning are collected and worshipped along with the Goddess to seek her blessings and promote the sanctity and excellence of academics and the performing arts.

Even instruments of music, dance and all forms of art are venerated and worshipped . On this day girls of all age groups wear sarees preferably the colour of dyed saffron or basanti. Palash flowers are an indispensable part of this festival.

Feasts of “Khichuri - Alur Dam” in schools for students and cultural programs in the evening are order of the day.

Dol Purnima / Holi :- Dol Purnima more popular as Holi is also known as the Dol Yatra in West Bengal. This spring festival is of colours and the city celebrates it with the traditional gaiety.

People from all walks of life, young and old, the forlorn and the affluent smear Abeer coloured powder , particularly red, colours are also mixed with water and sprayed on passer-by with ‘Pichkari’ or greeted with balloons full of coloured water. Sweets are distributed to whoever visits the household on this day.

Muslim Festivals :- The principal festivals of the Muslim community, Mohurrum, Iduzzoha, Idul-fitr and the prophets birthday all are celebrated in West Bengal with feasting and quiet merriment, assembles for religious discourses being a main part of the days observances.

Gangasagar Mela (District South 24 Parganas) : The largest fair of the State, Gangasagar Mela is a three-day event held in mid-January, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, at Sagar Dwip. Lakhs of pilgrims come for a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal.

Kenduli Mela (District Birbhum) : on the occasion of Makar Sankranti (mid-January) another fair is held at Kenduli in the district of Birbhum. The Mela draws the largest number of Bauls, the wandering minstrels of Bengal.

Jalpesh Mela (District Jalpaiguri) : On the occasion of Sivaratri (February – March), a month-long fair is held at Jalpesh near Mainaguri in the district of Jalpaiguri. The fair centres round the age-old Siva temple dedicated to Lord Jalpeswara.

Vasanta Utsav (District Birbhum) : With the onset of spring, Holi is celebrated all throughout India. At Santiniketan in the district of Birbhum, it is Vasanta Utsav (March). Students of the Visva Bharati University welcome the season of colours through songs and dances, throwing abir and spraying liquid dyes at each other.

Rathayatra (District Hooghly) : Rathayatra (June-July) at Mahesh near Serampore is a week-long festival. People throng to have a share in pulling the long ropes attached to the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra on the journey from the temple and back.

Jhapan (District Bankura) : All over the Western part of the state, a festival is held in the honour of the serpent-deity Manasa on the last day of the Bengali month Sravana (mid-August). But the most spectacular is the one held at Vishnupur in the district of Bankura, with its shows of live snakes on open platforms.

Bera Utsav (District Murshidabad) : Every year on the last Thursday of the Bengali month of Bhadra mid-September), Bera Utsav is held at Lalbagh on the river Bhagirathi near the palace of the Nawabs. Fireworks of various size and colour add to the gaiety of the festival

Rash Mela (District Cooch Behar) : On the occasion of Rashyatra (November), a fair is held at Cooch Behar in North Bengal. The month-long fair is one of the most important fairs in the area and the famous Madan Mohan Mandir becomes the center of festive jamboree.

Teesta Tea & Tourism Festival (Inter-State) : Held in a series at Darjeeling, the Dooars and in Sikkim, the Teesta Tea & Tourism Festival is celebrated with a view to promote tourism in this region as a composite tourist destination, with its bounties in tea, timber and tourism. The festival is held every year in November – December.

Poush Mela (District Birbhum) : Between the 7th and 9th of Poush (end-December). Poush Mela is held at Santiniketan in the district of Birbhum. Of the many seasonal festivals celebrated at Santiniketan, this is perhaps the most important, with cultural programmes consisting of folk music & dance, folk theatre and Baul songs.

Vishnupur Festival (District Bankura) : In the temple town of Vishnupur a festival is organised every year between 27 and 31 December. Characterised by exhibition and sale of local handicrafts and performance of the rich musical tradition that Vishnupur boasts, this is an immensely popular festival.

Gajan & Charak (District Bankura & Purulia) : It begins at Chaitra Sankranti (around mid-March) culminating to month-long rural fairs during Shiva Ratri.

Bon Devi Utsav( Sunderbans) : This is a major festival for the poor fishermen and villagers who worship the deity to protect them from the hidden dangers of jungle, including the ferocious Tigers and crocodiles.

Fairs in Kolkata

Kolkata Boi Mela : (Book Fair) is a unique and great cultural and literary event. Held every year from the end of January till early February, this 12-day long book fair is held over a large chunk of the Maidan near the crossing of Chowringhee and Park street in Kolkata. This is one of the largest book fairs in the world where the leading national and international publishing concerns participate.

International Film Festival in Kolkata:- Held every November between io and 17 is a gala event, showing films in various theatres, holding seminars, exhibitions and book bazaars, attracting large crowds of film-lovers. The hub of all activities is Nandan - a great cultural complex.

India Industrial Trade Fair :- It is held every year during December gaining wide renown.

Expo & Lexpo :- The Maidan in winter becomes abuzz with activity as crowd flow in to stack up goods from these international consumer goods and leather product fairs respectively.

Banga Sanskriti Sammelan :- Held annually in Calcutta, it is usually a 15-day festival as it represents all the different features of Bengali performing arts, traditional and modern, rural and urban. The Sammelan have come to acquire a highly representative character. Bengalis also have a tradition to commemorate birthdays of eminent personalities and saints accompanied by day-long programs fairs spanning a week.

Birthday Celebrations

Birthday of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa/ Sri Sri Maa Sarada Devi / Swami Vivekananda :-These are another notable religious festival held every year from early January to March according to the Tithis at the Belur Math, headquarters of the Ramakrishna mission.

The solemn observance draws not only Hindus but also people of other religions and Non-Indians, and lakhs of people converge there to pay homage to the great saint.

Rabindra Jayanti (Celebration of the birthday of Rabindrnath Tagore) falling on May,7/8 is the most widely observed cultural festival in West Bengal. All cultural associations and groups in town and village celebrate this day with programmes of song, dance and drama composed by Tagore, which run for days together.