Mohaloya Blog: The Story of Durga Puja, Kolkata and Bengali Sweets

From Mahalaya mornings to Durga Puja feasts, explore the origin of Durga Puja, Kolkata's Puja heritage, Bengali food and the Bengali sweets of Mishtanna.

Mahalaya Mohaloya morning marking the start of Durga Puja in Bengal — Mohaloya (Mahalaya) marks the countdown to Durga Puja.

What Is Mohaloya (Mahalaya) and Why Does It Matter for Durga Puja?

Mohaloya, spelled Mahalaya in English, is the sacred new-moon day that opens the Durga Puja season in Bengal. For every Bengali, Mahalaya is the moment when Durga Puja stops being a plan and starts feeling real. Families wake before dawn, perform tarpan for their ancestors, and listen to the chanting of Mahishasura Mardini, the devotional radio programme that has welcomed Durga Puja in Bengali homes for generations.

Mahalaya also signals the beginning of Devi Paksha, the fortnight when Goddess Durga is believed to descend to earth. On this day, Durga Puja idol makers in Kolkata traditionally paint the eyes of the Goddess, an act known as Chokkhu Daan. From this point the city, the pandals and the kitchens all move toward one festival: Durga Puja.

Devi Durga idol, the central Goddess of Durga Puja — Devi Durga, the warrior Goddess worshipped during Durga Puja.

The Origin of Durga Puja: Mythology and History

The legend of Goddess Durga and Mahishasura

The origin of Durga Puja lies in the story of Goddess Durga defeating the buffalo demon Mahishasura. According to the Devi Mahatmya, the gods combined their powers to create Durga, who fought the demon for nine nights and won on the tenth day, Vijaya Dashami. This victory of good over evil is the heart of Durga Puja, and it is why the Goddess is shown with ten arms, each holding a weapon.

Akal Bodhon: the autumn Durga Puja

Traditionally, Durga was worshipped in spring. The autumn Durga Puja we celebrate today is linked to the Bengali Ramayana tradition, where Lord Rama invoked the Goddess out of season, known as Akal Bodhon, before his battle with Ravana. That is why Bengal's Durga Puja falls in autumn, a few days after Mahalaya.

Kolkata Durga Puja: Origin and Heritage of the City of Joy

Kolkata is the beating heart of Durga Puja. The celebration in the city began in the homes of wealthy zamindar families. A widely cited account credits Raja Nabakrishna Deb of Sovabazar Rajbari with hosting a grand Durga Puja in Kolkata in 1757, and many old North Kolkata family pujas still follow traditions that are centuries old. Over time, the Durga Puja moved from private courtyards to community pujas, and today thousands of barowari and sarbojanin pandals light up Kolkata every autumn.

First Durga Puja of Kolkata, a traditional Durga Puja celebration — Kolkata's early Durga Puja began in family mansions before reaching the streets.

Today Kolkata Durga Puja is celebrated as a living art festival, with themed pandals, creative lighting and idols crafted by artisans from Kumartuli. UNESCO added Durga Puja in Kolkata to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021, a proud moment for every Bengali.

Howrah Bridge in Kolkata, West Bengal, the city of Durga Puja — Howrah Bridge, a symbol of Kolkata and the Durga Puja crowds that gather around it.

Bengali Food During Durga Puja: A Feast for the Soul

No Durga Puja story is complete without Bengali food. In Kolkata, Durga Puja means pandal hopping on an empty stomach and a full heart, because the food is half the festival. Every Durga Puja season, Bengali kitchens and street stalls come alive with classics.

Bhog khichuri with labra: the blessed Durga Puja lunch served to thousands of devotees.
Luchi and aloor dom: a favourite Bengali breakfast on Puja mornings.
Kosha mangsho and Kolkata biryani: the rich Bengali food you find at Puja-time dinners.
Ilish, bhetki and chingri: Bengali fish dishes that define a traditional Bengali thali.
Phuchka, ghugni and egg roll: Kolkata street food enjoyed between pandals.

But the true finish to every Bengali food story is dessert, and that is where Bengali sweets take over.

Bengali Sweets: The Sweetest Part of Durga Puja

Bengali sweets, also called Bengali mishti, are a cultural treasure. Chhena-based Bengali sweets such as rosogolla, sandesh, rasmalai and chomchom were perfected in Bengal, and the state's rosogolla earned a Geographical Indication tag in 2017. During Durga Puja, a box of fresh Bengali sweets is the most loved gift between families, neighbours and friends.

Iconic Bengali sweets and Bengali mishti in Kolkata — Iconic Bengali sweets: the taste that completes every Durga Puja in Kolkata.

Must-try Bengali sweets this Durga Puja

Rosogolla and rasmalai
Nolen gurer sandesh and kheer kadam
Pantua, langcha and chomchom
Mishti doi and payesh

Mishtanna's Contribution: Bringing Authentic Bengali Sweets to Your Durga Puja

Mishtanna is a Bengali sweet shop in Kolkata devoted to keeping the flavour of traditional Bengali sweets alive. Through its Bengali mishti range, Mishtanna contributes to the Durga Puja celebration by making authentic Bengali sweets easy to order, easy to gift and fresh for the whole family. Whether you want a box for Mahalaya, sweets for the Durga Puja guests at home, or a gift for loved ones living away from Kolkata, Mishtanna helps you share the taste of Bengal.

Mishtanna Bengali sweets and Bengali mishti shop in Kolkata — Mishtanna: authentic Bengali sweets for every Durga Puja celebration.

With online ordering and pre-order support, Mishtanna makes it simple to plan your Durga Puja sweets before the festive rush begins. You can explore the full Bengali sweets collection on the Mishtanna website.

Celebrate Mohaloya and Durga Puja with Mishtanna

Mahalaya begins the countdown, Kolkata lights the pandals, Bengali food fills the table, and Bengali sweets complete the joy. This Durga Puja, let Mishtanna bring the best Bengali mishti straight to your celebration. Shubho Mohaloya and Shubho Durga Puja to you and your family!