Padmapukur Barwari

Padmapukur Barwari — A Community Durga Puja

Padmapukur Barwari is a community Durga Puja in South Kolkata, Kolkata, organised on the "barowari" model — a public celebration by and for the neighbourhood. The term "barowari" (from "baro" meaning public and the Persian "wari") describes pujas instituted by groups of friends and neighbours rather than a single household.

Padmapukur's celebration follows the rhythm of Kolkata's Durga Puja: the khuti puja that marks the start of preparations, the crafting of the clay idol in Kumartuli, and the five days of worship from Shashthi to Vijaya Dashami, ending in immersion. Such pujas are the grassroots heart of a festival recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

• Organised by local residents on a cooperative basis.
• Traditional clay idol and five-day ritual calendar.
• Community bhog and cultural events accompany the worship.

Padmapukur Barwari continues a century-old Kolkata tradition of neighbourhood devotion, where the goddess is welcomed as a guest of the entire para.