Kolkata, Oct 10 (PTI) A grand cultural event featuring a spectacular light-and-sound show, musical performances and a drone display depicting Goddess Durga marked the beginning of puja festivities in West Bengal on ‘Mahalaya’ on Saturday.
The programme, hosted by the state government at Eden Gardens here, brought together traditional music, folk dances and modern visual spectacles, creating a blend of Bengal’s customs and contemporary entertainment.
Thousands of dhakis (drummers), with their rhythmic beats, formed a major attraction, evoking the familiar excitement that marks the arrival of Durga Puja in the state.
A light-and-sound presentation traced the journey of Durga Puja, featuring traditional Mahalaya broadcast on radio to ‘Sindoor Khela’ on Dashami, the final day of the festival.
The main attraction of the evening was a drone show in which thousands of drones illuminated the sky, creating images of Goddess Durga and a lotus.
Popular singers Shaan, Kaushiki Chakraborty and Lagnajita Chakraborty were among those who performed at the event.
Music composer Shantanu Moitra and his group also took the stage, and Debarshi Bhattacharya and other musicians presented instrumental performances, while writer Taslima Nasrin was present on the stage.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari arrived at Eden Gardens leading a procession from Red Road, accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues, personalities from the film world and other guests.
The large-scale event sought to present Bengal’s diverse cultural traditions before thousands of spectators on Mahalaya – marking the transition from Pitru Paksha to Devi Paksha.
The programme, which started at around 5 pm, continued till 8.30 pm. PTI SCH BDC
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