Kolkata: From the elaborate pandals of south Kolkata to the bustling neighbourhoods of north Kolkata and Salt Lake, foreign visitors are joining the city’s pre-puja pandal-hopping rush, soaking in the colours, creativity and devotion that make Durga Puja a celebration far beyond Bengal’s borders.Chetla Agrani, Ballygunge Cultural Association and Barisha Club in the south, Ultadanga and Hatibagan in the north, and FD Block in Salt Lake have all drawn international visitors, who have been marvelling at the elaborate installations.“I was extremely excited to witness the puja.The colours, the music and the vibrancy were brilliant. This was my first time witnessing Bengal’s puja, and going by what I have seen, I will recommend more friends to visit during the festival,” said Ian Taylor, a British national and senior director at a UK-based multinational company.For Philippe Aurelien Louis and his companion Sabrina, who travelled from Bora Bora in French Polynesia, the pandal at FD Block in Salt Lake was a sight to behold. “Our eyes were truly filled with wonder today. We highly recommend that everyone who can, should visit Kolkata at this time of the year. We also really love the atmosphere and the warmth that each pandal radiates,” Louis said.Trade insiders estimate that at least 15,000 foreign nationals will join the festivities this year, while the state govt has urged the tourism industry to prepare for an even larger influx.According to travel agents, visitors are arriving mainly from the US, Australia and European countries such as France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Ireland. The numbers also include non-resident Indians and Bangladeshi nationals, many of whom visit Kolkata throughout the year for business and healthcare.“The city and the state have witnessed a sharp rise in tourist footfall during Durga Puja in recent years. Tapping into this growing interest, private operators have introduced special tour packages for both domestic and international visitors. The public sector, too, has played a key role in promoting the festival and facilitating its growth into a global carnival,” said Bodhisatva Banerjee, a Durga Puja enthusiast who has been promoting the festival abroad since 2019.Banerjeehas brought around 20 visitors from France, Germany and the UK this year. He said foreign visitors had also been invited to an award event where they toured pandals and served as judges.The Indian Chamber of Commerce, too, has been hosting international delegates. Its president, Parthiv Neotia, expressed hope that their experience of the festival would leave a lasting impression and inspire them to share the essence of Kolkata’s celebrations in their home countries.After visiting Alipore Sarbojonin, Ballygunge Cultural Association and Rajdanga Amra Sabai Club, Italy’s ambassador to India, Antonio Enrico Bartoli, described the festival as an experience that brings together devotion, curiosity and artistic expression. “It’s my second time. I think it’s an incredible experience — an experience of the crowd, the devotion, and at the same time the curiosity to see the creativity expressed in the different pandals,” he said.For Bernard Lynch, consul-general of Australia in Kolkata, the visit offered a first glimpse into the scale and richness of the festivities. “It’s my first time witnessing Durga Puja, so it’s really amazing. Indian culture is so rich. There’s so much to know and understand.Kolkata has a rich cultural tradition, and I’m enjoying getting to know it,” he said.
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