See how artists blend faith with India's moon mission, obsession with gold, and much more during one of India's biggest religious festivals

• Millions of people will hit Durga Puja Pandals today to celebrate one of the world's biggest street festivals.
  
• The Durga Puja festival, a 10-day long carnival is celebrated early October.
  
• One of the artists crafted Durga idols made of 50 kg pure gold worth ₹500 million.
  
• Here are some pictures of Durga Puja pandals across the country.
  

Millions of people will hit Durga Puja Pandals today to celebrate one of the world's biggest street festivals.

The Durga Puja festival, a 10-day long carnival is celebrated early October. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Goddess Durga comes down to Earth by her four children to visit her parents. She is also known to have slayed the demon Mahishashur, during the same period.

Business Insider India picked up the top Durga puja pandals created across several states to celebrate the festival.

This community festival is celebrated in the company of friends and family. They also relish foods at street stalls and and patiently stand in long queues to visit the statues of the Goddess.


There are several puja committees which create pandals, or marquees, of all shapes and sizes.


One of the artists crafted Durga idols made of 50 kg pure gold worth ₹500 million. Artists also recreated India’s historic mission to the moon, Chandrayaan 2, at puja pandals in Nagpur and Varanasi.

In Kolkata, around 3,000 community pujas and 5,000 family pujas are being held. Another 25,000 community pujas were organised by local clubs, non-government and social organizations.


The puja festivities and prayers begin on the sixth day of the first quarter of the moon and end on Dashami or the 10th day, celebrated across the country as Dassehra.

The main fervor starts from the seventh (Saptami), eighth (Ashtami), and ninth (Navami) day when people start visiting the pandal for celebration.


The festival concludes the 10th day, called Vijayadashami.