With the dhaak beats echoing through South Delhi, Chittaranjan Park (CR Park) is once again turning into a vibrant replica of Kolkata as Durga Puja 2025 festivities kick off. For Delhi’s Bengali community and countless Pujo enthusiasts, this neighbourhood remains the beating heart of celebrations, offering nostalgia, devotion, and a cultural extravaganza that rivals the ‘City of Joy’ itself.
This year is particularly significant as three of CR Park’s biggest Pujas — Cooperative Ground, B Block, and Mela Ground — mark their 50th year, promising dazzling pandals, rich themes, and spectacular performances.
The Cooperative Ground Durga Puja in K Block has chosen Jaisalmer’s Sonar Kella or Golden Fort as its theme, inspired by Satyajit Ray’s iconic film. The limestone fortress will be recreated in the form of a grand pandal. The celebrations begin on September 25 with a performance by Bollywood singer Kunal Ganjawala, followed by a week-long line-up of cultural programmes. The committee has also announced special bhog arrangements for senior citizens, alongside security measures in coordination with Delhi Police.
B Block Durga Puja, also celebrating its golden jubilee, has taken the theme of “Mother Earth – the real gold.” The pandal and idols will be designed entirely in earthy mud tones. Known for its eco-friendly approach, the committee is lighting up the celebrations with 50,000 clay lamps this year and has also brought in special Chandan Nagar lighting from West Bengal. The pandal will also revisit its 25th-year theme of Navadurga, showcasing the nine different forms of the goddess.
Mela Ground Durga Puja, the largest in CR Park, is marking its 50th year with the theme of Mahishadal Rajbari, a 16th-century palace from East Medinipur in West Bengal. This pandal is expected to be a major attraction, drawing huge crowds with its elaborate design and cultural programmes.
Navapalli Durga Puja in Pocket 40 is focusing on the lost traditions of Bengali weddings. Maa Durga will be adorned as a bride in a red Banarasi saree and mukut, bringing alive rituals and customs of earlier generations. Meanwhile, the iconic Kali Bari Puja continues to attract devotees seeking a traditional and spiritual experience, with evening cultural programmes already underway.
The unveiling of the goddess faces will take place on Panchami or Shashti, September 28 or 29. From Shashti evening onwards, entry of vehicles into CR Park will be restricted, with only residents holding passes allowed access. Pedestrian entry will remain open, and public transport will be permitted up to the periphery of the locality.
Beyond CR Park, Durga Pujas are being celebrated across Delhi-NCR. Kashmere Gate hosts the city’s oldest Puja at the Bengali Boys Senior Secondary School grounds. Other notable celebrations include the Minto Road Kali Bari Puja, GK2 S-Block and M-Block Pujas, GK-1 Durga Bari Mandir Puja, and several Pujas across Noida and Ghaziabad, such as Noida Sector 26 Kali Bari, Sector 61 Balaka Durgotsav, Sector 50 Saptarshi Sangha, and Prantic Cultural Society in Indirapuram.
From small community gatherings to massive themed pandals, Delhi-NCR offers countless experiences of Durga Puja. Yet, for many, CR Park continues to remain the cultural epicentre of the festival, embodying the spirit of Kolkata in the heart of the capital.
