Maa Durga, in all her glory.
Durga Puja in Kolkata may be an unmatchable experience, but the rest of India is not too far behind in celebration of the festival of Navratri.
Although the festival is of 10 days, the celebrations take high wind around the fourth or the fifth day, the chaturthi or panchami, when people all across India can be seen out on the streets rejoicing.
From idols of Maa Durga with a thousand hands to idols that convey messages of conservation - here are some of the photos of revelry from across India.
1. In transit
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Workers pull an idol of Goddess Durga from a workshop to load it onto a truck on its way towards a pandal ahead of the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
2. Goddess for nature
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The idols of various deities of Rehabari Bilpar Durga Puja Committee are on the theme of 'Save Nature, Save Earth' in Guwahati. They have been modelled to look like tree trunks and roots, to impress the message on the viewers. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
3. 'Hazaar Haath'
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This idol of Goddess Durga has had the attention of the nation because for the first time an idol of the Goddess has been made with a thousand hands, instead of the usual ten. This idol can be seen at Deshopriya Park in Kolkata. (Photo courtesy - ANI)
4. Inaugural
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BJP President Amit Shah lights the lamp at the inauguration of Safdarjung Enclaves Durga Puja Pandal as Union Minister Babul Supriyo and CRPF Additional Director General Dipak Mishra look on, in New Delhi. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
5. Sand art
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Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik makes a sand art of Goddess Durga with the message "Maa Durga's blessings for our jawans" at Puri beach, in Odisha. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
6. Goddess in Ajmer
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A priest worships an idol of Goddess Durga at a pandal during the Durga Puja festival in Ajmer, Rajasthan. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
7. Tasha-party
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Men beat the traditional drums called "Tasha" to attract the organisers to hire them to perform at pandals of Durga Puja in Kolkata. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
