Durga Puja 2015: Food & Feasting in Delhi

One of the best things about Delhi is the fact that each festival gets its due. Be it Diwali, Eid or Janmashtmi, we go all out to bring together the culture, food and festivity associated with each. And that's exactly what you'll find during Durga Puja. Gorgeous pandals' embellished with shiny stones and golden sequins have cropped up around the city, Bengali food is on a new high and everyone's planning where and when to go for Pujo.

Taking inspiration from all of this merriment we decided to explore the city ourselves.

On the second day of Durga Puja, we decided to head to one of the city's biggest Bengali settlement in Delhi and a cultural hotspot, Chittranjan Park.

Every year at CR Park is better and more beautiful than the last. It's got the city's biggest pandals, back to back functions during the entire course of the festival, smartly dressed Bengali men and saree-clad, gorgeous Bengali women and a fine balance between festivity and deep devotion. Once you make your way past the traffic, you'll find tall trees dressed up in fairy lights, small chaat counters every 50 meters, wooden carts that push jewelry, clothes, snacks and what not. The mood is that of great food, festivity and celebration.

Besides dressing up, the other thing Bengali's love to indulge in during Durga Puja is food. Phucka, luchi, jhaal-muri, mangsho, mishti - you'll be amazed at all the mind-blowing food! At some of the pandal's you'll find only vegetarian food but if walk around the area you'll see kathi zones, biryani, mutton chaps and everything you thought you ever wanted to try.

Market 1 at Chittaranjan Park

Vetki fish chop

Jhal muri at the Shiv Mandir pandal

Deep-fried Mughlai paratha stuffed with chicken

Kolkata chicken biryani

Whole wheat chicken momos

Deep-fried Mughlai paratha stuffed with chicken and served with aloo