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Durga Puja and Navaratri are not merely festivals of worship and celebration. They are symbolic journeys that reconnect us with our roots—our culture, traditions, art, and values. During this time, Bengal’s pulse beats in rhythm with its centuries-old heritage. From the swaying kash flowers in the fields to rivers gliding quietly through the countryside, nature itself becomes part of the festival. Families return to their ancestral homes, children leave behind city life to spend time with grandparents in villages, and Puja transforms into a season of homecoming and rediscovery.

One of the most striking features of Durga Puja is its  profound link with creativity. Each year, new songs are composed, while timeless voices—Manna Dey, Hemanta 

Mukhopadhyay, Arati Mukhopadhyay—continue to echo in Puja albums filled with both nostalgia and renewal.  Fashion, too, finds fresh meaning as cinema-inspired trends shape festive attire. Thus, Durga Puja becomes a cultural canvas where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly. Equally important is the festival’s sense of community. The dhakis—traditional drummers—travel from villages to  cities, carrying with them the heartbeat of rural  Bengal. Yet, their greatest joy lies in returning home after the  festivities, laden with sweets,  fruits, and  gifts  for  their  families. 

Similarly, people from villages flock to the cities, turning Puja into a grand meeting ground that bridges the rural-urban divide. At its essence, Durga Puja is a return to the soil—our cultural and familial bonds.

Beyond its celebrations, Puja carries timeless lessons. Just as the Ganga begins at Gangotri, flows past countless towns, and merges into the ocean, so too does Puja symbolize life’s journey toward unity. The immersion of the Goddess on Dashami reminds us that life is a collective path, best lived together in harmony. The embrace at mosques after prayers finds its reflection in the embrace at pandals when devotees bid farewell to the Mother. The festival teaches us that  togetherness is life’s truest essence.

Yet this spirit is not always upheld. I recall visiting Bangladesh during Durga Puja years ago, witnessing streets alive with processions and joy. Today, however, the hardships faced by Hindus there—their persecution and  displacement—cause deep sorrow. For Durga does not preach hatred or violence; she inspires us to conquer the evil within and nurture the goodness that lies within  humanity. When hatred is stoked in the name of religion, caste, or politics, we betray the very essence of this festival.

For me, Durga Puja is also inseparably linked with literature. My parents, poet Prafulla Dutta and Rekha Dutta, published Adhunik Kabita (Modern Poetry). Months before Puja, they worked tirelessly to bring out each issue, featuring contributions from stalwarts like Shakti Chattopadhyay, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Sanjay Bhattacharya, and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, who later became Chief Minister. That  magazine reflected the cultural depth of Puja, proving that this time of year awakens not only devotion but also poetry, music, and art.

Durga Puja is far more than pandals, new clothes, or commerce. It is a rediscovery of the self, a reaffirmation of culture, and a collective pledge to live harmoniously. As we celebrate, let us draw strength from the Mother within us, dedicate ourselves to humanity’s welfare, preserve our values, and nurture our culture. In doing so, we do not merely celebrate Durga Puja—we celebrate life itself.