People'S Assn.

Lake Gardens Peoples' Association — A South Kolkata Durga Puja

The Lake Gardens Peoples' Association organises a community Durga Puja in South Kolkata, Kolkata, serving the Lake Gardens neighbourhood. As a residents' association puja, it reflects the cooperative, barowari model in which an entire locality pools resources and effort to celebrate the goddess.

South Kolkata's neighbourhood pujas are celebrated for both traditional devotion and inventive themes. Associations such as this one keep the festival rooted in local community life while contributing to the citywide spectacle that UNESCO has recognised as intangible heritage.

• The puja is run by the local peoples' association.
• Rituals follow the traditional five-day Durga Puja calendar.
• Neighbourhood cultural programmes and bhogs are part of the celebration.

For the residents of Lake Gardens, the association's annual puja is a highlight of the festive season and a expression of collective community spirit.