Top Ganesh Pujas in Kolkata: 8 Pandals You Cannot Miss

Ganesh Chaturthi in Kolkata does not draw the same scale of crowds as Durga Puja, but the city has built some genuinely notable Ganesh celebrations over the decades. The Top Ganesh Pujas in Kolkata range from century-old Maharashtrian traditions to towering idols and themed pandals that borrow heavily from the city’s Durga Puja culture. If you are planning which pandals to visit this Ganesh Chaturthi, here are eight of the best Ganesh Pujas in Kolkata worth your time.

Maharashtra Mandal, Maharashtra Niwas, Hazra Road

Reportedly running since around 1924, this puja at Maharashtra Niwas on Hazra Road is one of the oldest continuous Ganesh celebrations in Kolkata and recently marked its centenary. The idol stands at roughly 15 ft and is made using eco-friendly clay, in line with the puja’s Maharashtrian ritual roots. The celebration runs the full 10-day cycle, with daily Marathi kirtan sessions drawing both the city’s Maharashtrian community and general visitors.

Posta Ganesh Mandir (Jai Matadi), Barabazar

Set inside the busy trading lanes of Burrabazar, the Posta Ganesh Mandir was established sometime in the 20th century and draws some of the heaviest footfall among Kolkata’s Ganesh Pujas. Its temple idol is worshipped through a traditional community bhog, and the marketside mela around it gives this puja a busy, commercial energy that sets it apart from the quieter Maharashtrian-style pujas elsewhere in the city.

Shri Siddhivinayak Temple, Barabazar

The newest puja on this list, this temple was established in 2020 with modern temple architecture rather than a seasonal pandal setup. Its idol, at roughly 6 to 7 ft, is a permanent temple murti rather than an annual immersion idol. Daily darshan is paired with continual Ganesh aartis held throughout the year, not only during the Chaturthi festival days.

Bhawanipore Ganesh Puja, Bhowanipore

Believed to have started in the 1980s, this puja is known for its authentic Maharashtrian style of worship and one of the largest idols in the city, standing over 13 ft. The scale of the idol is the puja’s biggest draw and pulls crowds from across South Kolkata during the festival.

Lake Kalibari Ganesh Puja, Salt Lake

Believed to date to around the 2010s, this Salt Lake puja has grown into one of South Kolkata’s largest Ganesh celebrations. It borrows heavily from Durga Puja conventions, running a full 10-day pandal structure alongside a cultural program, and is a good example of how Ganesh Chaturthi in Kolkata often picks up local Durga Puja style rather than following a purely Maharashtrian format.

Pratyay Ganesh Utsav, Lansdowne Market

Running since around the 1990s, Pratyay Ganesh Utsav is built around a very large idol, elaborate pandal décor, and evening cultural shows held through the festival. Of all the pujas on this list, it is closest in feel to a Barowari club’s Durga Puja rather than a temple-style Ganesh celebration.

Santosh Mitra Square Ganesh Puja, Bowbazar

Started in the 2000s, this puja leans on artistic, themed pandal design rather than idol size alone. Its medium-sized idol is paired with a pandal built around a fresh creative concept each year, mixing traditional ritual with the kind of thematic design more often associated with Kolkata’s Durga Puja circuit.

Maniktala Lohapatty Ganesh Puja, Maniktala

Also dating to around the 1990s, this North Kolkata puja stands out for its direct mix of Maharashtrian and Bengali traditions, both in ritual and in themed decorations. Its large idol and cross-community approach make it a useful stop for anyone tracking how Ganesh Chaturthi has taken root within Kolkata’s own festival culture.

Planning Your Ganesh Puja Route in Kolkata

Together, these eight pujas cover most of what Kolkata’s Ganesh Chaturthi has to offer: old-school Maharashtrian ritual at Maharashtra Mandal, temple-scale devotion at Shri Siddhivinayak, and Durga Puja style scale at Pratyay Ganesh Utsav and Lake Kalibari. A single-day route through Bhowanipore, Hazra Road, and Burrabazar covers the older, more traditional pujas, while Salt Lake and Lansdowne suit visitors chasing idol size and pandal design.

Founding years and idol details for several pujas above are approximate, based on publicly available community information. Confirm current-year specifics with each committee before treating any date as final.