An artist gives finishing touches to an idol of Goddess Durga ahead of Durga Puja festival at Bolpur in Birbhum district of West Bengal on Friday. Photo: PTI
With Mahalaya Amavasya, the festival of Navaratri began on Tuesday. The biggest festival of Bengal, "Durga Puja" will start on October 1, with the installation of the idols of the Goddess. Here an artist covers the finished Durga idol to protect it from rain on Mahalaya Day at Kumartoli, the idol makers' hub in Kolkata. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
An artist adds finishing touches to the idol of the demon Mahishasura at a workshop in Allahabad on Sunday. Durga Puja commemorates the slaying of the demon by Goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil. Photo: AP
Artists from West Bengal preparing a pandal for Durga Puja celebrations, organised by Banga Sammilani, at Pankha Road Janakpuri D-Block, in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar.
A girl gives finishing touches to an idol of Goddess Durga ahead of Durga Puja festival in Karad, Maharashtra on Saturday. Photo: PTI
An artist working on an idol of Goddess Durga at the Bengali Senior Secondary School pandal at Shamnath Marg in New Delhi on Wednesday. The school has hosted a puja pandal for the past 102 years. Photo:Sushil Kumar Verma
Workmen busy erecting a gigantic Durga Puja pandal at Gabindtalla under Sambalpur municipal limit in Orissa on Thursday. The festival is widely celebrated with tremendous pomp in Sarbahal, Beheramal and Jhanda Chowk areas of Jharsaguda, Orissa. Photo: Lingaraj Panda
Artists prepare the final decorative pieces that will adorn the idols of Goddess Durga in New Delhi, on Thursday. Photo: AP
A devotee, Baba Nageshwar, balances a "Kalash" (holy pot) on his chest before an idol of goddess Durga at Naulakha Mandir in Patna on the first day of Navratra. He plans to continue this for the entire Durga Puja (Navratra) festival. Photo: Ranjeet Kumar
A priest offering prayers to Goddess Durga on Mahalaya Amavasya in Kolkata. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
An artists working on parts of the idol of Goddess Durga at a workshop in Allahabad, on Wednesday. Photo: AP
The idol of a demon stands under the foot of Goddess Durga, ahead of Durga Puja festival in New Delhi, on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011. Photo:AP