In ancient times the worship of Durga was strictly restricted within the ambit of a few religious individuals. The community Durga Puja with all its pomp and grandeur started finding its solid and permanent base among the natives Princes and Zamindars of Bengal during the regime of Lord Cornwallis in British India.
Kolkata is always found to explode into a riot of rainbow colours with the appearance of autumn.

A spirit of euphoria sets in during the four-day festival of Durga Puja in the town life. Nowadays, Puja in suburban areas also have gained momentum, both in private houses and community pandals. In Bengal Durga puja is a nine day celebration starting from the day of Mahalaya which is on the last day of waning moon or new moon of Sarat in

abode in Kailash in the Himalayas, where she lives with her consort Shiva.
In the beginning of autumn season, the clear sunshine in the blue sky, beautiful sights of 'kash' flowers and sweet scent of 'shiuli' remind one of the oncoming Puja.
The golden sunshine that fall on the leaves of the trees, the mild chill in the breeze, the green fields and the murmuring streams create a celestial mood in Nature. The traces of the last rains having disappeared, the azure blue sky bears on its vast bed the drifting patches of clouds like stray lumps of wool pervade the atmosphere with the festive feel. 'Saradiya Sankhas', 'pujor gaan', latest released Bengali cassettes all are inseparable parts of a 'Bengali's pujo'.
During the Puja season emotions are high with thoughts of homecoming, happy reunions with parents and daughters married to distance places, between brothers separated across the oceans; the beat of drums thud across the twilit skyline releasing a fresh boost of life amidst the locality numbed by its numerous problems. Everyone, tries to forget at least for the four days the hard-pressing reality and utmost practicality of everyday life as they take the welcome break from routine life and lose their work-a-day identity in the swirl of festivity.
Sweet smell of flowers and incense sticks fill the atmophere in all the community pandals. Prasad distributed after the daily rituals satisfy already satiated appetites. Loud-speakers blare film songs till they seem to have been hammered into the subconscious. Added to this the frenzied drum beats and the ecstatic dance of the drummers join the festivity.