Journey to India

We did have other accommodations in Calcutta (Kolkata) proper, but our family really wanted us nearby for the annual Durga Puja celebrations which I can only compare to Christmas. It's four to five days of intense activity centered around the goddess Durga, an incarnation of the goddess Parwati, who comes back to the earthly home of her father and mother, a short time after her wedding. This is a custom for new brides in India. Brides, after a few months, come back to their mother and father to stay a while, and when it's again time to return to her husband's house, there is much tears and joy. And so, ornate depictions of the goddess in 3D are built in temporary temples, throughout the city, often only 3-4 blocks apart.  I will post pictures as soon as possible. Then she is immersed back into the Ganges river, amidst huge amounts of fanfare... which we luckily videotaped. You can google Durga Puja for more information. The celebration is especially important for Hindu Bengalis.