“Durga Pujo has always been the soul of Bengali culture. It is the time we wait for all year—the dhaak, the dhuno, the bhog, and the dhunuchi dance. For those of us living away from Bengal, Hyderabad Kalibari at Vivekanandapuram has become that home during Durga Pujo. Built with the efforts of the Bengali community here, it’s now the place where hundreds gather every year, not just Bengalis but people from across the city, to celebrate together.

People who can’t travel back to Bengal during this time find the same spirit here—the aarti, the dhaak, the bhog, and the feeling that Ma is with us. That’s why Kalibari has become so close to the heart of the city during Navratri and Dussehra.

Growing up, Durga Pujo meant helping the family members decorate the Pandal, lighting diyas, and waiting eagerly for the bhog after aarti. The dhunuchi dance always stayed with me—the rising smoke, the rhythm of the dhaak, and the devotion in every step. Even now, when I experience it at Kalibari, I get goosebumps.

For us, Durga Pujo is strength and devotion. It is the one time of year where the divine feels closest, and Hyderabad Kalibari makes that possible for us here.”