DILIP GUHA ★ NEW DELHI, 30th Oct 2025 : Durga Puja is more than a ritual—it’s a living tapestry of shared emotion, artistry, and collective spirit. In Delhi, the festival unfolds like a cultural symphony, where tradition dances with modernity and every street becomes a stage for devotion.
As the goddess arrives, so does a transformation. Neighborhoods light up with handcrafted pandals, each telling a story of resilience and reverence. Strangers become companions, families reunite, and artisans find their moment in the spotlight. It’s a celebration where the sacred meets the social—where worship becomes a language of unity.
The city breathes in the fragrance of marigolds and sandalwood, while the hypnotic rhythm of dhak drums pulses through the air like a heartbeat. From the quiet corners of prayer to the exuberant swirl of sindoor khela, Durga Puja in Delhi is a celebration of life itself—joyous, inclusive, and deeply rooted in cultural pride.
Taking the festival to unprecedented levels of splendor, the Ramakrishna Mission’s New Delhi branch, in its third year of organizing Durga Puja celebrations, has crafted a detailed pandal that captures the essence of the elaborate Shastra Puja.
Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, is 98 years old and has set up an aesthetically beautiful, large pandal on its premises, with a marble platform erected for conducting the Puja in which the image of Durga, along with her children, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartika, and Ganesh, has been installed. Shri Biswajit Pal of Krishna Nagar, West Bengal, has crafted the images. Five drummers from Birbhum (West Bengal) are also in attendance. The venue is located near the Ram Krishna Ashram Marg Metro Station in Paharganj, New Delhi.
Durga Puja, which symbolizes the victory of truth over evil, is a largely Bengali festival that has assumed pan-Indian proportions. Mission has made elaborate arrangements for Durga Puja from 27th Sep 2025 to 2nd October 2025. The puja starts from the Maha Shasti (Sunday) and will run till Dashmi (Thursday). However, among these days, Asthami, the eighth day of Durga Puja, i.e, today, holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. The mission organized a special Kumari Puja on Maha Ashtami Day, in which a girl aged six years was worshipped as the very embodiment of Mother Durga.
As per ritual, an unmarried teenage girl is worshipped symbolically as a goddess. Followed by Sandhi Puja, which is also a very important ritual of Durga Puja, performed on the same day between 5.43 pm to 6.31 pm. A Sandhi Puja takes place on Mahashtami Day, which is the threshold between Mahashtami and Mahanavami, when Devi Chamunda is offered special worship.
Durga Puja in the Ramakrishna Order was started by Swami Vivekananda in 1901 after his return from the West, and the invocation was done in the name of Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother. This tradition is followed till now by all in 35 centres of the Ramakrishna Order and at 15 locations in foreign countries like Bangladesh, South Africa, and Mauritius, where it is celebrated.
Bhaskar Roy, vice-president of the managing committee and a devoted member of the Ramakrishna Mission for over sixty years, offered a heartfelt perspective on the festival’s enduring spirit. He noted that the growing participation of volunteers and devotees has been a driving force behind its continued success, reflecting a shared commitment that transcends generations.
“Our strength lies in collective devotion,” Roy remarked. “Each year, more hands and hearts come together—not just to celebrate, but to uphold the sanctity of our traditions.” He emphasized that while the scale of the celebration has expanded, the Mission remains deeply rooted in the rituals and practices established by Belur Math, ensuring that reverence guides every aspect of the puja.
He said, “The Ramakrishna Mission in New Delhi is preparing to host its third annual Durga Puja celebration, which began in 2023. He confirmed that the festival has quickly become a cherished tradition, drawing devotees from across the city.”
“Durga Puja, as practiced by the Ramakrishna Order, traces its origins to Belur Math, where it was first initiated by Swami Vivekananda in 1901. The inaugural puja was held in the presence of Sri Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother, whose spiritual legacy continues to guide the rituals performed at all Ramakrishna Math and Mission centres. Today, the festival is observed at 35 centres across India and 15 international locations, including Bangladesh, South Africa, and Mauritius.”
“At the New Delhi centre, the festivities are marked by a surge in participation, especially on Mahashtami day. Highlights include the Kumari Puja, which honours the divine feminine through the worship of a young girl, and the Sandhi Puja, dedicated to Devi Chamunda. Organisers anticipate large crowds throughout the three-day celebration, with lunch prasad served generously to all attendees.”
“Adding to the festive atmosphere is an artistically designed pandal on the Mission premises, which has become a visual and spiritual focal point.
He says, “Apart from Puja and Pushpanjali in the mornings, Sandhya Arati will also be performed every evening. Bhog Prasad will be served to one and all every day from 1:00 pm onwards, for which elaborate arrangements have been made. We are expecting an aggregate footfall of 40,000-50000 plus devotees to take place.
“The mission has organized prasad (lunch ) for all visitors on all four days. Six Dhakis (drummers) from Bolpur (near Shantiniketan) were seen in action during the Puja days.”
“The concluding rituals will take place on October 2, with Sindoor Khela scheduled earlier in the day. The immersion of the Durga image is set for 1:30 pm at Astha Kunj near Nehru Place, marking the end of this year’s vibrant and devotional celebration.”
Speaking to this reporter, Swami Sarvalokananda, Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, reflected on the essence of Durga Puja:
“Durga Puja is a celebration of Shakti—the sacred feminine force that resides within each of us. Through this worship, we seek to awaken that divine energy, to nurture strength, compassion, and clarity in our lives.”
He described the puja as a vibrant yet deeply meaningful tradition. “Here, the ritual is not just about grandeur—it’s about invoking auspiciousness in every heart. The goddess is revered with devotion and dignity, accompanied by the rhythmic pulse of dhak and dhol, communal feasting, and joyful gatherings. It is a Rajasik celebration, yes, but one that uplifts the spirit and binds the community.”
Swami Sarvalokananda also spoke of the moral challenges facing society today. “We see troubling tendencies—greed, aggression, division—taking root. The worship of Mrinmayi Maa is our collective prayer to dispel these forces and restore balance. It is a call to reclaim our higher nature.”
He concluded by affirming the unity of practice across all centers:
“Our rituals follow the sacred traditions of Belur Math. Whether in Delhi or elsewhere, the spirit of the puja remains the same—rooted in reverence, guided by wisdom, and open to all.”
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