Central Kolkata has fewer pujas but two or three very large ones, and they sit close enough to the railway stations and the metro that they take the heaviest crowds in the city. College Square is set around a water tank and lights its reflection; Santosh Mitra Square builds a different large-scale replica every year.
The names
Places, pujas and people, with what each one is| Name | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| College Square1948 | College Street | Set around the swimming tank; the lighting reflected in the water is the draw. |
| Mohammad Ali Park1969 | Central Avenue | One of the largest central pujas, and one of the most crowded. |
| Santosh Mitra Square1936 | Sealdah | Known for very large replicas and elaborate lighting. |
| Sealdah Railway Athletic Club1940s | Sealdah | A long-running central puja. |
| Bowbazar Sarbojanin1930s | Bowbazar | In the gold quarter. |
| Rani Rashmoni Avenue | near BBD Bagh | A central puja on the avenue. |
| Burrabazar pujas | Burrabazar | Trading-district pujas, quieter than the rest. |
| Park Circus Maidan | Park Circus | The eastern-central puja and fair. |
Worth knowing
- These take the heaviest crowds because they are next to the stations.
- College Square is best seen after dark, for the reflection.
- Sealdah and Central metro stations both run extended hours during Puja.
- Combine with the College Street bookshops, which stay open.
More on Durga Puja
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