Kolkata, Oct 13 US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited several Durga Puja pandals in the city and praised the creativity and community spirit surrounding the festival, saying he could now understand why the celebration held such a special place in people’s hearts.
He visited the popular ‘Sreebumi’ puja pandal on Tuesday on his way to the airport to fly to New Delhi.
Sharing photographs of his visit on X, Gor wrote, “Great to be back in Kolkata! Visited some beautiful pandals and experienced firsthand the incredible creativity, community spirit, and warmth. I can see why this celebration is so special. Happy Durga Puja to everyone celebrating!”
The US envoy also shared a photo of himself posing in front of a Durga idol, expressing his appreciation for the festival’s unique blend of artistic expression and community participation.
On Monday, Gor visited a few Durga Puja pandals in the city, including a couple in Salt Lake and two others in Alipore and Behala, the southern parts of the city.
Durga Puja, the biggest festival in West Bengal, is celebrated with elaborate pandal decorations, intricately crafted idols and a range of cultural activities.
The festival brings together people from different walks of life, with artisans, sculptors and decorators working for months to create the elaborate installations that draw visitors in large numbers.
In 2021, UNESCO inscribed West Bengal’s Durga Puja on its “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”, recognising the festival’s cultural significance and its role in bringing communities together.
(PTI News)
