In Photos | From Kolabou Snan to Dhaak Processions, Bengal Marks Maha Saptami
Devotees gather along the Ganga, Hooghly and Mahananda rivers for Kolabou Snan as West Bengal marks Maha Saptami during Durga Puja. From Kolkata and Nadia to Siliguri and Birbhum, people take part in the morning rituals before returning in processions, accompanied by the beats of dhaak drums. In Kolkata, devotees perform Kola Bou rituals along the Ganga, while crowds throng the wholesale flower market as preparations for the festival continue. The rituals and gatherings mark Maha Saptami across the state on Saturday.
People perform 'Kola Bou' rituals on the bank of the Ganga river at a ghat, on the occasion of 'Maha Saptami' during the ongoing 'Durga Puja' festival, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
People return after performing 'Kolabou Snan', also known as 'Nabapatrika Snan', rituals in the Mahananda river on the occasion of 'Maha Saptami' during the ongoing 'Durga Puja' festival, in Siliguri, West Bengal, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Photo: PTI
People return in a procession after performing 'Kolabou Snan' rituals on the occasion of 'Maha Saptami' during the ongoing 'Durga Puja' festival, at Hatserandi village, in Birbhum, West Bengal, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Photo: PTI
Artistes play 'dhaak' in a procession after 'Kolabou Snan' rituals on the occasion of 'Maha Saptami' during the ongoing 'Durga Puja' festival, at Hatserandi village, in Birbhum, West Bengal, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Photo: PTI
People perform 'Kola Bou' rituals on the bank of the Ganga river at a ghat, on the occasion of 'Maha Saptami' during the ongoing 'Durga Puja' festival, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
People perform 'Kola Bou' rituals on the bank of the Ganga river at a ghat, on the occasion of 'Maha Saptami' during the ongoing 'Durga Puja' festival, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
A man performs 'Kola Bou' rituals in the Ganga river on the occasion of 'Maha Saptami' during the ongoing 'Durga Puja' festival, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
People perform 'Kolabou Snan' rituals in the Hooghly river on the occasion of 'Maha Saptami' during the ongoing 'Durga Puja' festival, in Nadia, West Bengal, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Photo: PTI
People throng a wholesale flower market during the ongoing 'Durga Puja' festival, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
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