Mitali Sangha

Mitali Sangha — the Nabadurga puja of Garia

Mitali Sangha, in the Garia area of southern Kolkata (Greater Kolkata), is celebrated for a distinctive tradition that sets it apart from most city pujas: the worship of nine forms of Goddess Durga under one roof. Organised as the Sarbojanin Nabadurga Durgotsab, the club had reached roughly its 84th year by 2024, while the unique Nabadurga practice itself spanned about seven decades.

Rather than the single idol seen at nearly every other pandal, Mitali Sangha presents the principal Durga alongside eight chosen manifestations drawn from the Puranas — such as Maha Bhairavi, Vaishnavi, Kalaratri and Skandamata — each worshipped with its own rituals and mantras. The idea, club organisers have explained, is to highlight the many forms of the goddess described in the scriptures, rotating them year to year so devotees encounter a different aspect each time. The puja also observes the traditional Kumari Puja and combines its spirituality with social welfare, including bhog for all and clothing distribution to the less fortunate.

Although Mitali Sangha preserves a traditional idiom, it has also embraced contemporary presentation — colourful light works and decorative pandals — and has featured in the state government's Durga Puja carnival for its uniqueness.

• Location: Garia, Greater Kolkata
• Signature tradition: Nabadurga (nine forms of Durga)
• Approx. age: ~84 years (2024); Nabadurga practice ~70 years
• Zone: Greater Kolkata