Midnight Madness: What To Do At Midnight During The Pujos

Midnight, dawn or dusk, pandal hopping is on top of everyone’s to-do list. These fours days are meant for keeping troubles away and appreciate months of hardwork put in behind each and every pandal built, the idols created and the light decorations. Whether you want to wait in endless queues or sneak inside the emptier ones, appreciating the effort and the festivity tops everyones’ list. From north to south and even central Kolkata, keep your cab apps active or use the public transport but make the most of these four days.

Generations change but adda at midnight at Maddox Square only gets better with every passing year. The puja which had started way back in 1935 is synonymous with being the adda zone during Puja days. Soak in Ma Durga’s ekchala shabeki look in the signature Maddox Square idol, as your squad keeps you busy over incessant and unadulterated adda. The food and beverage stalls, balloon shooting stalls are there to keep you company. This is one such place where you are bound to come across some known person for sure.

Enjoy midnight buffet at Waterside Cafe, Hyatt Regency as the hotel celebrates completing 15 years. The longest buffet spread awaits you here at midnight. Starting midnight the buffet would be on till 3am. Take a break from pandal hopping and enjoy a leisurely meal with your loved ones at a pocket-friendly rate of Rs 1,199 plus GST.

Head to the Swabhumi Dandiya Mahostsav for non-stop fun. Starting September 27 and continuing till September 29, this one’s non-interrupted entertainment for those willing to try out their dandiya skills. Swabhumi will be divided into two zones, one for traditional dandia at Ranng Manch and the other for disco dandiya. Dance your way through midnight and till the wee hours. Daisy Shah, Dj Pearl, DJ Ritzee are expected to be present.

Tickets are priced Rs 500 onwards.

The iconic eatery would be open 24X7 from September 27 to 29. Get flavours of Bengal at Flurys as they introduce special platters – Shorshe Bhetki (a richly infused Kolkata bhetki with the delicious pungent flavour of mustard paste and oil),  Malai Chingri (a Bengal special curry made from prawn and coconut milk and flavoured with spices), Kosha Mangsho (spicy delicious mutton curry), Posto Murgi (traditional Bengali chicken marinated and cooked in a subtle poppy seed paste to make a thick and creamy curry) and Malai Kofta (melt-in-mouth koftas in creamy rich, mild and lightly sweet gravy). All platters are accompanied with steamed rice, Bengal spiced sona moong dal, fried eggplant , potato crisp, roasted papad, mango yogurt, and Gulab Jamun.

Meal for two would be around Rs 1,200 plus GST.

One of the most revered Puja pandals, Baghbazar has been a crowd puller in North Kolkata for decades. Apart from the grandeur of the ekchala Durga protima (idol), what keeps the place bustling with activity is their massive mela. From various rides – ferris wheel, pirate’s ship, carousel – there are innumerable stalls selling food, pickles, home accessories to keep people engaged, irrespective of their age group. This is a place for families.