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Festivals, places, food and books from Kolkata and West Bengal, in Bengali and English, with the songs and stories to play on the same page.

Face of a Durga idol at a South Kolkata pujo, with a white sholapith crown and marigold garlands

In season · Festivals

Pandal hopping without the crush: Saptami to Dashami 2026

Four days of Kolkata's Durga Puja remain after Saturday evening's crush at Chorbagan. Before you set out, here is when to go, how late the Metro runs, what to do if a crowd closes in and which numbers to keep on your phone.

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FestivalsMahalaya 2026: listen to Mahishasura Mardini by Birendra Krishna Bhadra, in Kolkata or abroad
BooksGhanada: who he is, and which of his stories to hear first
ListenManna Dey's Bengali songs: 14 to start with
ListenOld Bengali songs: 20 adhunik songs, and who made each one
ListenBengal's ghost stories, place by place: where each is set, and what to hear

On air nowKolkata's radio, on Kolkata timeIt follows the clock and the sky over Kolkata. Free, no sign-up.

Festivals14

Mahalaya, the Pujas and the rest of Bengal's year: dates, what happens, and what to hear.

Festivals
Durga Puja 2026 in Kolkata, day by day: Shashthi to Dashami, and what each day means
Durga Puja 2026 dates for Kolkata, Shashthi to Bijoya Dashami: each day's rites, the Sandhi Puja time in London and New York, and what to play.30 Sep 2026
Festivals
Mahalaya 2026: listen to Mahishasura Mardini by Birendra Krishna Bhadra, in Kolkata or abroad
The date, the 4 am broadcast and what that hour is in London, New York or Dhaka, and where to play the full recording whenever you like.27 Sep 2026

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Festivals14

Durga Puja 2026 in Kolkata, day by day: Shashthi to Dashami, and what each day means

Mahalaya 2026: listen to Mahishasura Mardini by Birendra Krishna Bhadra, in Kolkata or abroad