Vibrant Durga Puja Celebrations Kick Off Across India

As the sixth day of Navratri unfolds, Durga Puja celebrations have officially begun across India, with vibrant festivities in cities like Jamshedpur. Community organizations have unveiled intricately designed pandals, drawing thousands of devotees eager for blessings. The celebrations highlight a rich cultural heritage, featuring elaborate decorations and traditional rituals. From Kolkata to Uttarakhand, the spirit of worship and community bonding is palpable. Join in the festivities as families and friends come together to honor the Goddess during this significant time.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 16, 2026, 12:04 IST

Festivities Begin as Navratri Reaches Day Six

Photo: @TheBengalIndex/X

New Delhi, Oct 16: The joyous Durga Puja festivities have officially commenced in various regions of the country as the sixth day of Navratri unfolds. The doors of the pandals have swung open, welcoming countless devotees eager to receive blessings.

In Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, the atmosphere transformed into a lively center of devotion and celebration as community festivities peaked on Friday.

Prominent socio-cultural and religious groups, such as the Hindi Club, Ranikudar, Sri Sri Rankini Mandir, Sri Utkal Durga Puja Committee, Agrico Puja Committee, and Tuiladungri Puja Committee, showcased grand, intricately crafted pandals. The elaborate decorations, synchronized lighting, and traditional Vedic rituals have deeply engaged local residents in the worship spirit.

Jamshedpur is known for hosting around 500 unique Durga Puja celebrations, making it one of the largest cultural gatherings in the area. Local committees have mobilized dedicated volunteers and organized infrastructure to handle the influx of visitors, ensuring safety and accessibility for families and attendees. As the festival continues, the city embodies a remarkable blend of community spirit and spiritual devotion.

On the sixth day of Shardiya Navratri 2006, dedicated to Maa Katyayani, pandals were beautifully decorated across cities in West Bengal and other states, including Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand. Devotees were seen visiting multiple pandals to seek the Goddess's blessings.

During the 106th Durga Puja celebrations at Kolkata’s famous Tala Barowari, devotee and organizer Abhishek Bhattacharya expressed, “We honor the Shakti in three forms: Durga, Saraswati, and Lakshmi. The Puranas and Vedas teach us that Shakti embodies the divine power of Dasha Maha-vidya and Navadurga - the Navadurga of Uma. This essence is what we aimed to depict in our pandal.”

In Kashipur, Uttarakhand, a week-long Durga Puja festival is taking place from October 15 to 21, featuring religious rituals, cultural performances, bhajan evenings, and community feasts, inaugurated by Mayor Deepak Bali.

In Jharkhand, JMM general secretary Binod Kumar Pandey and party spokesperson Manoj Kumar Pandey inaugurated the Durga Puja pandal at Harmu Panch Mandir near Harmu Chowk with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, artist Hafizuddin Ahmed shared his experience of crafting Ravan effigies for Dusshera over the past 50 years. He stated, "I create effigies of Ravana, Tazia, and also engage in set/scenery design work, including projects from the film industry when requested."

Reflecting on his family's legacy, he added, "I learned from my father, who told me that his father and grandfather were also involved in this craft.”