1st day, 1st show: Durga Puja pandal-hopping in Kolkata starts on Mahalaya
Times of India | 22 September 2025Organisers said the early crowds caught them off guard, while police struggled to manage traffic at key festive hubs. At Sreebhumi Sporting Club, whose pandal was inaugurated by chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday, lines began forming well before the 8 pm public opening on Sunday.
By the time actor and MP Dev performed the official inauguration, around 10,000 people were waiting along Lake Town Road. It even took Dev's car around 40 minutes to squeeze past the crowd of visitors after he inaugurated the New Jersey Akshardham temple-themed puja.
Homemaker Ratna Das from Behala said she travelled 25 km with her husband and 21-year-old daughter to watch the puja early. "We thought arriving early would make it peaceful, but there were many others with the same idea. It was crowded, and we fell sick by the time we came out," she said. Police said they prepared for a rush but still faced challenges ensuring free movement along VIP Road. At one point, traffic was suspended to guide revellers toward Lake Town via the service road.
Other parts of the city also saw large turnouts. In South Kolkata, Chetla Agrani reported around 1,500 people waiting outside by 7 pm asCM Banerjee inaugurated the puja and painted the idol's eyes. "We repeatedly informed visitors that Sunday's entry was for VIPs only, but they insisted. Additional volunteers and police were deployed to maintain order," said Babu Samanta of Chetla Agrani Club. At Ekdalia Evergreen, president Swapan Mahapatra said preparations were incomplete, including electricity connections for lighting, but revellers attempted to enter regardless.
"Many were satisfied posing for photos and selfies outside the closed pandal," he said. Natun Dal in Behala also reported early arrivals despite ongoing decoration work.
In North Kolkata's Bonedi Bari clusters, early arrivals were reported from families eager to start their visits. A guard at Shovabazar Rajbari said, "We usually open gates from Tritiya, but this year, visitors began arriving from Mahalaya evening."
Revellers said the early visits added energy to their celebrations. Graphic artist Puja Sengupta, visiting with her seven-year-old daughter, said, "I wanted to start my puja tour early since Sunday is my only free day."
Metro recorded more footfall than last Sunday. Till 5 pm on Sunday, more than 3 lakh commuters travelled across Blue, Green, and Yellow lines.
At the end of the last service, more than 4 lakh commuters were expected to travel on the three metro lines, officials said. Till 5pm more than 2.26 lakh commuters used the Blue Line, over 70,000 took the Green Line, and around 3,488 passengers travelled on the Yellow Line.
(Inputs from Mayukh Sengupta)
