Mahalaya

Mahalaya is an auspicious occasion celebrated seven days before Durga Puja. It marks the invocation of the goddess Durga, the deity of supreme power. This festival involves the chanting of mantras and prayers to invite the goddess to descend to earth and dispel evil forces.

Basant Utsav

Basant Utsav, introduced by Rabindranath Tagore, is a celebration of spring that coincides with Holi. It includes dance, music, and the playful throwing of colored powders, known as abir. This festival, also called Dol Utsav or Dol Jatra, attracts tourists from around the world and is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Asansol.

Vijaya Dashami

Vijaya Dashami, or Dussehra, marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana and the triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. It is celebrated with great zeal, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The festival includes processions, prayers, and cultural events.

Jagadhatri Puja

Jagadhatri Puja celebrates the goddess Jagaddhatri, another form of Devi Durga. It is believed that the goddess protects her devotees from evil and ensures their well-being. The festival involves rituals and prayers to seek her blessings.

Durga Puja

Durga Puja is the most significant festival in Asansol and West Bengal. It celebrates the victory of good over evil and lasts for five days. The city comes alive with beautifully decorated pandals (temporary structures) where people gather to worship the ten-armed goddess Durga, along with Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganesh, and Kartikeya. The festival includes prayers, cultural performances, feasts, and the exchange of sweets.

Charak Puja

Charak Puja is a unique Bengali festival dedicated to penance and endurance. Devotees undergo a month-long fast and perform various acts of self-punishment as a form of devotion. The festival includes dramatic rituals where worshippers throw themselves onto stages embedded with sharp objects, emerging unscathed as a testament to divine protection.

Poila Baisakh

Poila Baisakh, or the Bengali New Year, is celebrated in mid-April. It marks the beginning of the new year according to the Bengali calendar. People wear new clothes, visit temples, and exchange greetings and sweets to welcome the new year with joy and hope.

Kali Puja

Kali Puja, dedicated to the goddess Kali, is a significant festival in Asansol. Introduced in the 18th century by Raja Krishnachandra of Navadvipa, it involves worship, prayers, and offerings to the goddess, who is considered one of the most important deities in Bengali culture.

Festivals Celebrated in Asansol