Durga Pooja Street Festival in Nainital

Goddess Durga in the form of Devi is worshiped across India, but during the Ten days of Navratri, every city has it's uniqueness. I come from a small town called Nainital in Uttrakhand, though I have lived and traveled across the country right from childhood days.

Durga being carried thorough the procession

Somehow we always spent Dussehra in Kanpur, and skipped the hills on those days. Of course, amma would often talk a lot about Dussehra of Almora (I still haven't experienced it), but Dussehra in the hills remained an elusive dream.

So when my friend Maartem and I decided to trek in the hills, I persuaded him to come during Dussehra days as I finally had a chance to witness the Dussehra festivities in Nainital!

View from my home

We al took morning walk together :)

She is not looking at me - but at Maartem

While Maartem looked away :)

The morning was spent walking around Nainital and I showed him some interesting spots, especially the ones where we could sit and eat Maggie in peace (it used to be legal back then), have an unhindered view of the Naini lake, sun bathe (Maartem insisted on walking around without his shirt on, and made many pahadi women his fan) and just chill.

As afternoon fell, we walked on the streets and witnessed a street festival celebrating the victory of Goddess Gurga over Mahisasur. I had never seen it before and simply loved the energy of the place, and Maartem (with his shirt on) was literally pulled in to be a part of the festival - he was the only white man around and loved all the attention he got :)

A huge Durga

Man playing drum (and looking quite grim)!

The locals trying to take a peek

A young boy dressed up as Ganesha

Another mythological character

Some more music!

Dressed up kids!

Someone was certainly having fun :)

Ganesha again :)

I love this shot! So much action happening :)

Laughing boy!

Women in typical Bengali sarees

As the afternoon turned into night, it was time to celebrate the killing of Ravana in the Ramlila maidan. We saw some Ramlila and burning of Ravana by Rama and the day ended with us celebrating the victory of good over evil - the essence of Dussehra.

Effigies of Ravan and his evil brothers

Just before the burning of the effigies...