In Pictures

Durga Puja celebrations in India

The annual festival commemorates the slaying of the demon king by goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil.

An artist moulds clay as he works on an idol of Hindu Goddess Durga in preparation for the Durga Puja festival. [Manish Swarup/AP]

22 Oct 2015

The beats of dhak, a barrel shaped drum, can be heard in every part of the country as the Hindu festival of Durga Puja grips India.

The season of festivities officially kicks off with celebrations in which the Hindu Goddess, Durga, is worshipped in full swing.

The six-day auspicious occasion marks the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasura.

Durga Puja is the biggest festival of Hindus of the Indian state of Bengal, which sees grand and artistically constructed idols of the Goddess worshipped.

Hindus believe that the goddess Durga symbolizes power and the triumph of good over evil. [Biswaranjan Rout/AP]

The Durga Puja festival is being celebrated from October 19 to 22 this year. [Jayanta Dey/Reuters]

Bengalis all over the world are marking the festival representing the victory of good over evil and the celebration of female power. [Piyal Adhikary/EPA]

Durga Puja is the biggest religious event for Bengali Hindus. [Piyal Adhikary/EPA]

Devotees perform Dhunuchi, a traditional dance on the Maha Panchami, while unveiling of a Goddess Durga idol during the Durga Puja festival. [Divyakant Solanki/EPA]

Grand and artistically done idols of the Goddess are worshipped during the festival. [Mahesh Kumar A./AP]

The festival commemorates the slaying of a demon king by lion-riding, 10-armed goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil. [Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters]

Hindu devotees perform a ritual during Durga Puja celebrations. [Mahesh Kumar A./AP]

Indian women apply vermillion paste on another during celebrations marking Durga Puja festival. [Rajanish Kakade/AP]