Early Crowds at Sreebhumi and Other Iconic Pandals
At Sreebhumi Sporting Club, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday, visitors began lining up hours before the 8 pm opening. By the time actor and MP Dev performed the official inauguration, nearly 10,000 people had gathered along Lake Town Road. Heavy traffic forced police to divert vehicles and even suspend movement at one point to manage the flow of people.
Other major pandals such as Chetla Agrani in South Kolkata, inaugurated by CM Banerjee, also witnessed massive crowds despite the organisers reserving Sunday for VIP entry. Volunteers and police were pressed into action to manage the swelling queues. At Ekdalia Evergreen, where preparations were incomplete, revellers still gathered for selfies and photographs outside the closed pandal.
In North Kolkata, traditional Bonedi Bari pujas such as Shovabazar Rajbari saw early footfall, with families arriving ahead of the official opening dates. Guards reported that visitors turned up from Mahalaya evening itself, reflecting the eagerness of devotees to begin the festivities.
Personal Stories Amid Festive Rush
For many families, the early start was about making the most of limited time. Ratna Das, a homemaker from Behala, travelled 25 km with her family to witness the puja at Sreebhumi. “We thought arriving early would be peaceful, but it was just as crowded. By the time we left, we were exhausted,” she said.
Graphic artist Puja Sengupta shared a more positive note, saying she wanted to start her pandal-hopping early since Sunday was her only free day. For her seven-year-old daughter, the excitement of seeing the lights and decorations made the early rush worthwhile.
Traffic, Metro and Crowd Management
Kolkata Police faced challenges across the city. VIP Road and Lake Town saw major traffic disruptions, while service roads were used to divert vehicles. The Metro also recorded a surge in ridership. By 5 pm on Sunday, more than 3 lakh commuters had already used the system, with officials estimating over 4 lakh by the day’s end across the Blue, Green, and Yellow lines.
Despite the rush, the festive spirit remained high. Many revellers expressed joy at starting Durga Puja early, marking Mahalaya not just with prayers but with pandal visits that set the tone for the celebrations ahead.