durga puja step by step

i thought i'd give a little breakdown of how things seem to work at durga puja - or what i experienced of it. so here goes.

the deities are created with clay and then painted and adorned..

you can take a traditional rickshaw ride through the old city to get to some of the more traditional pandals

be prepared for crowds! everyone in the city seems to be out pandal-hopping

if you're feeling so inclined.. grab yourself some noisemakers! they're everywhere

priests are often up on the platform with the deities giving offerings

sometimes the priests offer up aarti, and people clamor for the holy fire

after taking darshan, worshipers can receive tikas, as this family does

when it's time to take the deity down for an immersion in the ganges, drums are essential

final offerings given to maa durga, accompanied by drums and a sort of trance-like dance

food offered to the deity

on the final day women's faces are often streaked with vermilion and many of them wear red.

a final touch for maa durga

there's always room for a little dancing!

and then the men carry her and the holy family away

a crowd follows the deity up to the waterfront

splash! into the ganges

one happy camper carts off a used pandal. and the cycle continues...