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Durga Puja festival is all set to take place this year between October 20 and October 24, and devotees are preparing for Durgotsava with full enthusiasm. Idols of Goddess Durga are taking final shape, and huge pandals are erected in different parts of the country.Durga Puja is also known as Sharodotsav. It is an annual Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian subcontinent. People revere and pay homage to the Hindu goddess Durga. It is celebrated because of goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura (demon).In the month of Ashwin, the festival is observed in the Indian calendar. It corresponds to September–October in the Gregorian calendar.For the Durga Puja festival, the Odisha state government has declared a 10-day holiday in schools from October 20 to October 29.Here are some pictures from the festivities. Have a look:
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Traditional Women drummer perform at Delhi Haat, ahead ofDurgaPujain New Delhi on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. Express photo by Pallavi TO
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Shivratri festivities: Devotees at Shiv Dham at SriDurgaMata Mandir in Ludhiana on Saturday. Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh
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Showcasing of award winning idols of GoddessDurgaat Red road to commemorate UNESCO’s recognitionDurgaPujaas an ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’. The carnival is organised by Government of West Bengal in Kolkata. Express photo by Partha Paul
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Apujapandal Saraswati Kalimata Mandir Parishad club near Narkeldanga who were in news last year for their controversial theme on poll violence. Express photo by Partha Paul.
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Students of Art College and labours working for makeshift pandal forDurgaPujaof Jagat Mukherjee Park in North Kolkata focusing on “Fuldi” @ Ful Kumari Das a model of art college. Express photo by Partha Paul.
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An artisan prepares a clay idol of Hindu Goddess Durga ahead of Durga Puja festival in Hyderabad. (AP Photo)
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An artisan sprays color on a clay idol of a tiger, the animal that Hindu Goddess Durga rides on, ahead of Durga Puja festival in Hyderabad. (AP Photo)
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An artisan prepares a clay idol of Hindu Goddess Durga ahead of Durga Puja festival in Hyderabad. (AP Photo)
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Art students prepare ‘rangoli’ on the Howrah bridge ahead of Durga Puja festival, in Kolkata. (PTI Photo)
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A community puja pandal being prepared ahead of Durga Puja festival, in Kolkata. (PTI Photo)
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Devotees carry an idol of Goddess Durga idol to a pandal ahead of the Durga Puja festival, in Mumbai. (PTI Photo)
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Devotees carry an idol of Goddess Durga idol to a pandal ahead of the Durga Puja festival, in Mumbai. (PTI Photo)
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An artisan gives final touches to an idol of Goddess Durga ahead of Durga Puja festival, in Karad. (PTI Photo)
