The city pulses, Kolkata blossoms with thousands of scarlet tents. As the main autumn celebration of West Bengal's Durga Puja approaches, pandals - temporary festive temples - emerge in squares, at street intersections, and all around. Erected from tied bamboo poles, the structures are lavishly draped with red silk, garlands of flowers, and glowing illuminations. When the preparations for the celebration are complete, adorned statues of goddess Durga will occupy the central altar in each tent. Then, sweet incense smoke will billow, drums will play, and a procession of festively dressed residents and guests will come together to rejoice in the triumph of good over evil, to glorify the Great Goddess and receive her blessings. The festivities will last for several vibrant days, and then all the clay idols of the divine protectress from the tents will be carried with honors to the sacred river Ganges. The tents will empty, the silk will wither, and the city's life will return to its normal course until the following autumn. The cycle repeats, as it always does: the unmanifested arises and vanishes, giving way to the new manifested.
Durga Puja (a festival honoring the warrior goddess Durga, who defeated the evil demon)
