Durga Puja, Bengal’s most celebrated festival, has a history as colourful and layered as the region itself.  While folklore suggests that Durga was initially worshipped by zamindars in Bengal’s Maldah or Dinajpur, the first documented Durga Puja in Bengal dates back to 1606 in the Nadia district.

It was organised by Bhavananda, who was the ancestor of Maharaja Krishnachandra. The festival gained prominence during Maharaja Krishnachandra’s reign. However, in Calcutta, now Kolkata, the oldest continuing Durga Puja belongs to the Savarna Chowdhury family of Barisha, initiated in 1610. This puja still happens today in the old-fashioned way.

A pivotal moment in the festival’s history came in 1757 when Raja Nabakrishna Dev’s Durga Puja at Sovabajar Rajbari became a template for others to follow. The festival established a new paradigm where the festival evolved into a symbol of fashion, status, and prestige among traders and the elite. The number of European guests or ‘Sahibs’ attending these family pujas became a measure of social standing, further cementing the festival’s importance in Bengali society.

This is how Durga Puja changed from only a religious festival to a prominent social event. Today, Durga Puja is still the most important festival in Bengal, bringing everyone together to celebrate. UNESCO added Durga Puja to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2021, acknowledging its significance. In 2024, this recognition continues to boost cultural tourism and international interest in the festival.