Last Updated:
Planning Durga Puja pandal hopping in Delhi? Explore CR Park’s iconic pandals, cultural programs, and the best Puja spots across NCR in 2025.
The best time for pandal hopping is Shashti evening for vibrant crowds.
Every autumn, when the rhythm of dhaak fills the air and the fragrance of shiuli blossoms announces the arrival of Durga Puja, Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park transforms into a living postcard of Bengal. This South Delhi neighbourhood is the closest one can get to the grandeur of Kolkata’s celebrations without leaving the capital. Here, devotion and nostalgia come together in dazzling pandals, cultural programmes, and streets buzzing with festive adda.
CR Park’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations
This year marks a milestone moment for CR Park, as three of its biggest Pujas – Cooperative Ground, B Block, and Mela Ground – step into their 50th year. Each pandal is readying itself with grand themes that promise to draw massive crowds.
- Cooperative Ground Durga Puja is reimagining Jaisalmer’s iconic Sonar Qila, immortalised by Satyajit Ray’s Sonar Kella, as its pandal theme.
- B Block Durga Puja is celebrating Mother Earth, with an eco-conscious mud-inspired design lit by an awe-inspiring 50,000 diyas. The committee is also revisiting its classic Navadurga theme.
- Mela Ground Durga Puja, the largest in CR Park, is recreating the opulent Mahishadal Rajbari of East Medinipur, bringing a slice of Bengal’s heritage to Delhi.
Beyond these, Navapalli Durga Puja highlights the nostalgia of traditional Bengali weddings, while Kali Bari Durga Puja offers a deeply spiritual, non-themed experience for devotees seeking authenticity.
Best Time to Visit the CR Park Durga Puja Pandals
The grand unveiling of idols usually happens on Panchami or Shashti, with the most vibrant crowds gathering from Shashti evening onwards. For a leisurely experience with fewer crowds, mornings are ideal, while evenings are best for soaking in the illuminated pandals, cultural performances, and food stalls serving Kolkata-style street delicacies.
Durga Puja Across Delhi-NCR
While CR Park remains the epicentre of Pujo in Delhi, the celebrations spill far beyond. The historic Kashmere Gate Puja, the oldest in the city, continues to draw loyal crowds, while Aram Bagh Puja, GK-1 and GK-2 Kalibari Pujas, and Minto Road Kali Bari are equally cherished. In Noida, pandals at Sector 26, Sector 61, and Sector 50 attract large gatherings, while Ghaziabad’s Prantic Cultural Society Puja and Bongotoru at Shipra Suncity have become local favourites. Additionally, Svayam, in collaboration with the Pandara Road Puja Committee, launched an SOP in conjunction with UNESCO to make Durga Puja pandals more accessible.
From themed grandeur to intimate community gatherings, Durga Puja in Delhi-NCR offers something for everyone. And for those longing for the magic of Kolkata, CR Park’s golden jubilee year ensures that this Pujo season will be remembered for years to come.
Delhi, India, India
September 26, 2025, 14:28 IST
