Para Jagarani

Para Jagarani — A Neighbourhood Durga Puja

Para Jagarani is a community Durga Puja in Kolkata, its name evoking "para" (neighbourhood) and "jagarani" (the awakening of the goddess). It is organised by local residents as a barowari celebration of the goddess Durga.

The puja follows the customary five-day calendar, with a clay idol prepared in Kumartuli and worshipped from Maha Shashthi to Vijaya Dashami. Neighbourhood pujas such as Para Jagarani preserve the communal, inclusive character of Kolkata's Durga Puja, an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognised by UNESCO.

• Organised by a neighbourhood committee.
• Traditional idol worship and rituals.
• Local cultural programmes and community bhog.

Para Jagarani embodies the grassroots devotion through which Kolkata's greatest festival is kept alive year after year.