Sundarban Festival Tour
Bengali people like to celebrate every festival with their traditional concept. When new festival needs to celebrate they do it with their own style. Sundarban festival tour is an unique concept with a aim to focus on various festivals celebrated in Bengal.
13 Parbans in Bengali 12 months, and if it is a celebration of a fish queen like Hilsa then no more talk. Taste of foods makes Bengali unparalleled.
In every festival, Bengalis indulge in their own rasana nivritti. Like “Gota Seddha”, “Shital Sasthi”, “Pitha-Puli”, “Navanna” are some examples. Hilsa festival is one such festival. Lately we see various fish stalls along with pithe-puli in almost every mela food stall. All these are made possible to honor the deep connection of food with Bengali festivals.
As Sundarban has come up top on the tourist map since the last ten years, Hilsa festival has come to the peak of popularity.
The Sundarban Hilsa Festival is a version of Hilsa Utsav organized by many corporate companies of Kolkata for a week.
Every year many tourists flock to attend this festival. The most notable of these are the expatriate Bengalis. Bengalis, who get nostalgic after hearing the name of Hilsa, cannot keep themselves away from the opportunity to join this festival.
A walk in the deep forests of the Sundarban, drenched in Ilm drizzle, with all the various items of the Hilsa makes for an unforgettable experience. Which again and again makes you Sundarban oriented. These two words festival and travel become one with Sundarban.
As soon as you remember the name Sundarban tour, you first remember to check out the food menu along with the tour. A Sundarban hilsa festival includes dishes such as “steamed hilsa”, “sarse hilsa”, “fried hilsa”, “hilsa paturi”, “hilsa polao”, “hilsa biryani” along with mutton kasa, chicken curry, prawn malaikari and crab’s items.
Lets check few popular Bengali Food Festivals here :
Poush Mela
Poush Mela – Held annually in December in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, celebrating Bengali culture and tradition.
Poush Mela is an annual fair and cultural festival held in the town of Shantiniketan in West Bengal, India. The festival is usually celebrated in the month of December, on the occasion of Poush Sankranti.
Poush Mela is a celebration of Bengali culture, traditions, and arts. It is organized by the Visva-Bharati University, which was founded by the famous Bengali poet and philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore. The festival attracts thousands of visitors from all over India and abroad.
The festival features various cultural programs, folk music, dance performances, poetry recitations, and theater shows. Handicrafts and traditional items are also sold at the fair. The main attraction of the festival is the food stalls that offer a wide range of Bengali delicacies, including sweets, snacks, and traditional dishes.
Poush Mela also features various competitions, including poetry competitions, painting competitions, and sports events. The festival is a platform for young artists and performers to showcase their talent and creativity.
The festival is a celebration of Bengali culture and its rich heritage. It is an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the spirit of community and togetherness.
Kolkata Food Festival
Kolkata Food Festival – A food festival held annually in Kolkata, showcasing a wide range of Bengali cuisine.
Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal in India, is known for its rich culinary history and diverse food culture. To celebrate the city’s love for food, the Kolkata Food Festival is organized every year.
The Kolkata Food Festival is a week-long event that showcases the best of Bengali cuisine, as well as dishes from other regions of India and around the world. The festival is usually held during the winter season, between December and January.
The festival features food stalls, live cooking demonstrations, food competitions, and cultural programs. Renowned chefs from Kolkata and other parts of the country participate in the festival to showcase their culinary skills and present new and innovative dishes.
The festival offers visitors an opportunity to sample a wide range of food items, from traditional Bengali dishes like kosha mangsho, cholar dal, and macher jhol, to street food like phuchka, kathi rolls, and momos. The festival also features international cuisines such as Chinese, Thai, Italian, and more.
Apart from food, the Kolkata Food Festival also showcases the city’s vibrant cultural scene. There are music and dance performances, as well as art and craft exhibitions. The festival is a celebration of Kolkata’s rich heritage and its love for food and culture.
Overall, the Kolkata Food Festival is a must-visit for food lovers and anyone who wants to experience the vibrant culture and culinary delights of Kolkata.
Durga Puja
Durga Puja – Celebrated in September or October, Durga Puja is a major Bengali festival that features traditional food and sweets.
Durga Puja is an annual Hindu festival celebrated mainly in the Indian state of West Bengal, as well as in other parts of India and the world where Bengali communities reside. The festival is a celebration of the victory of good over evil, and the triumph of goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.
Durga Puja is a five-day festival that usually falls in the month of September or October, according to the Hindu calendar. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion by Bengalis all over the world.
The festival involves the installation of elaborately crafted and decorated idols of goddess Durga, along with her four children – Ganesh, Kartik, Lakshmi, and Saraswati – in temples, pandals (temporary structures), and homes. The idols are worshipped with offerings of flowers, sweets, and prayers.
The festival is also marked by cultural programs, music, dance, and street fairs. The streets of Kolkata and other cities come alive with colorful decorations, lights, and pandals that showcase different themes and artistic styles.
The final day of Durga Puja, called Vijayadashami or Dussehra, marks the victory of goddess Durga over Mahishasura. The idols are taken out in a grand procession and immersed in water bodies, symbolizing the return of goddess Durga to her heavenly abode.
Durga Puja is a time for celebration, feasting, and togetherness. It is an opportunity for Bengalis to come together and celebrate their rich culture and heritage. The festival is a symbol of the resilience, strength, and beauty of Bengali traditions and customs.
Rash Mela – Held annually in November in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, celebrating the life of Raja Narayan Deb.
Bengali Food Festival at India Habitat Centre – A food festival held annually in New Delhi, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
Nabanna Utsav
Nabanna Utsav – Held annually in November in Nadia district, West Bengal, celebrating the harvest season with traditional food.
Navanna Utsav is a traditional harvest festival celebrated in the Indian state of West Bengal, mainly in rural areas. The festival is also known as the ‘Nava Durga Puja’ or ‘Nava Parna’, and is celebrated in the month of Agrahayan (November/December) according to the Bengali calendar.
Navanna Utsav is a celebration of the harvest season, and is marked by offerings of the newly harvested rice to the goddess Durga. The festival is a way of giving thanks to the goddess for a bountiful harvest and seeking her blessings for the upcoming season.
The festival involves a series of rituals and ceremonies that are performed by farmers and their families. The first ritual involves the worship of the goddess Durga, followed by the offering of rice and other crops to her. The rice is then cooked and offered to the goddess, after which it is shared among the community as prasad.
The festival is also marked by cultural programs, music, dance, and street fairs. Farmers and their families come together to celebrate the occasion, dressed in traditional attire and performing folk dances and songs.
Navanna Utsav is a time for celebration, feasting, and togetherness. It is an opportunity for rural communities to come together and celebrate their hard work and the fruits of their labor. The festival is a symbol of the deep connection between nature, agriculture, and human life, and reinforces the importance of sustainable agriculture practices.
- Kali Puja – Celebrated in October or November, Kali Puja features traditional Bengali food and sweets.
- Boi Mela – A book fair held annually in Kolkata, featuring street food and snacks.
- Baro Mase Tero Parbon – A festival held throughout the year in West Bengal, featuring traditional food and customs.
- Shivratri – Celebrated in February or March, Shivratri features special offerings of Bengali sweets.
- Basanta Utsav – Held annually in March in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, celebrating the arrival of spring with traditional food and music.
- Pohela Boishakh – Celebrated in April, Pohela Boishakh is the Bengali New Year and features traditional food and sweets.
- Sharad Utsav – Held annually in October in Kolkata, featuring traditional Bengali food and cultural events.
- Baul Fakir Utsav – A festival celebrating the Baul music tradition and featuring traditional Bengali food and sweets.
- Jhulan Yatra – Celebrated in August, Jhulan Yatra features traditional Bengali sweets and delicacies.
- Rath Yatra – Celebrated in June or July, Rath Yatra features traditional Bengali sweets and food offerings.
- Pitha Utsav – A festival dedicated to the Bengali sweet delicacy, pitha.
- Nobanno Utsav – Celebrated in November, Nobanno Utsav features traditional Bengali harvest food.
- Bishwa Ijtema – A religious gathering held annually in Dhaka, featuring traditional Bengali food.
- Chandannagar Jagaddhatri Puja – A festival celebrated in November in Chandannagar, West Bengal, featuring traditional Bengali food and sweets.
- Jute Festival – Held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the use of jute in traditional Bengali cuisine and crafts.
- Christmas – Celebrated in December, Christmas in Kolkata features traditional Bengali sweets and food offerings.
- Bengali Food Festival at Taj Bengal – A food festival held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
- Holi – Celebrated in March, Holi features traditional Bengali sweets and food offerings.
- Gajan Festival – A festival celebrated in April, featuring traditional Bengali sweets and food offerings.
- Bengali Food Festival at Park Plaza – A food festival held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
- Eid-ul-Fitr – Celebrated in May or June, Eid-ul-Fitr features traditional Bengali sweets and food offerings.
- Bengali Food Festival at Novotel – A food festival held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
- Buddha Purnima – Celebrated in May, Buddha Purnima features traditional Bengali vegetarian cuisine.
- Boishakhi Mela – A cultural festival held annually in London, featuring Bengali food and music.
- Bengali Food Festival at Hyatt Regency – A food festival held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
- Saraswati Puja – Celebrated in January or February, Saraswati Puja features traditional Bengali sweets and snacks.
- Kite Festival – Celebrated in January, the Kite Festival in Kolkata features traditional Bengali street food.
- Chhath Puja – Celebrated in November, Chhath Puja features traditional Bengali sweets and food offerings.
- Bengali Food Festival at Taj Bengal Mumbai – A food festival held annually in Mumbai, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
- Saptami, Ashtami, Navami – Celebrated during Durga Puja, these days feature traditional Bengali food and sweets.
- Bengali Food Festival at The Gateway Hotel – A food festival held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
- Biryani Festival – Held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the variety of Bengali biryanis.
- Bengali Food Festival at ITC Sonar – A food festival held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
- Ratha Yatra – Celebrated in June or July, Ratha Yatra features traditional Bengali sweets and food offerings.
- Bengali Food Festival at The Westin – A food festival held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
- Rabindra Jayanti – Celebrated in May, Rabindra Jayanti features traditional Bengali vegetarian cuisine.
- Bengali Food Festival at The Lalit Great Eastern – A food festival held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
- Kolkata Street Food Festival – Held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the variety of street food available in the city.
- Bengali Food Festival at The Oberoi Grand – A food festival held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
- Kali Puja at Dakshineswar – Celebrated in October or November, Kali Puja at Dakshineswar features traditional Bengali sweets and food offerings.
- Bengali Food Festival at Taj Bengal Chennai – A food festival held annually in Chennai, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.
- International Kolkata Book Fair – Held annually in Kolkata, featuring traditional Bengali street food and snacks.
- Bengali Food Festival at JW Marriott Kolkata – A food festival held annually in Kolkata, showcasing the flavors of Bengal.