The religious festival of Durga Puja is marked by a kind of boisterous revelry seldom seen in other sacred events. The thrust isn’t on fasting and prayers as much as it is on feasting, adorning new clothes and socialising into the wee hours of the morning. Bengalis love to travel and many choose to spend this official holiday season exploring other festival celebrations in India. With local representation of this community throughout the country, it’s always possible to catch the customary morning rituals and community congregations (pandals), while taking in the sights and sounds of unusual locales. During this time, one can also witness the worship of goddess Durga in her various avatars throughout the country. Here are some truly magical alternatives to a Durga Puja spent outside Bengal.
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