Mamata Banerjee carries out colourful procession to thank UNESCO for Durga Puja’s heritage recognition

Helmed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal government on Thursday organised a mega rally to thank UNESCO for bestowing Durga Puja with the cultural heritage tag. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

The procession, which started from Girish Park Jorashanko and concluded at Red Road, saw people from in and around Kolkata wearing colourful clothes and carrying multicoloured umbrellas. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

For the unversed, Kolkata’s Durga Puja was accorded the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage Tag’ by UNESCO on December 15, 2021. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Women perform traditional dance at Red Road, Kolkata (Express photo by Partha Paul)

“Durga Puja is seen as the best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and as a thriving ground for collaborative artists and designers,” UNESCO noted. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Speaking about the rally, Banerjee said, “People of all religion, caste, creed will be part of the event. We will all get together and celebrate as one, because I believe, religion is personal, but festivals are for all.” (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

The rally featured colourful tableaux with traditional conch sounds and folk dance. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Several puja committees from the state were seen taking an active part in the vibrant rally. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

The chief minister added that the rally is not just to thank UNESCO but also the people of Bengal, the Durga Puja committees, the idol makers, and everyone else. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Durga Puja, marking the ten-day worship of Durga, is an annual festival celebrated most notably in Kolkata, but also in other parts of the country. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

The festival is marked by large-scale idol installations as well as by traditional Bengali drumming and veneration of the goddess. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

This year, Durga Puja will begin in the first week of October. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Durga Puja will end on October 5, this year (Express photo by Partha Paul)