What to carry on a 2026 Durga Puja night
Pandal hopping in Bengal is not a quick temple visit. On a busy evening you might walk three to eight kilometres, stand in queues for thirty to ninety minutes, switch between Google Maps and crowd updates, and photograph themes after dark. Phones die. Ashwin weather turns humid, then rainy. Shoes that looked fine at home hurt by the fourth club.
This page is our editorial packing list — the same advice we give friends before a North Kolkata circuit or a South Kolkata art-pandal crawl. Puja idols and décor are in our own shop; this list is only for gear you carry on the route.
The four essentials (carry these every night)
- Power bank (20,000 mAh or more) — Maps, WhatsApp location sharing, Pandal Explorer crowd levels and the camera app will drain a full battery before midnight. Charge the bank the same afternoon you go out.
- Compact umbrella or thin rain poncho — Sudden showers are common in early Ashwin. A folded umbrella fits a sling bag; a poncho is lighter if you already carry a bag.
- Walking shoes or sports sandals — Tram tracks, broken pavement and long standing queues punish dress shoes. Break in whatever you wear before Saptami.
- Small cross-body or sling bag — Hands free for photos, prasad and holding a child’s hand in a crowd.
North Kolkata vs South Kolkata
North Kolkata (Bagbazar, Kumartuli, Shyambazar, Hatibagan) means narrower lanes, denser crowds and more walking between pandals. Pack lighter, wear the most comfortable shoes you own, and keep cash in a front pocket. A power bank matters more here because signal and GPS work harder in old neighbourhoods.
South Kolkata (Ballygunge, Gariahat, Jodhpur Park, Santoshpur) often has wider roads and larger themed pandals, but evening queues on Ashtami and Navami are still long. Rain gear and ORS sachets help if you are doing a full belt in one night.
Howrah and Siliguri visitors should add mosquito repellent for riverside or suburban pandals and plan return transport before 1am when local autos thin out.
If you are photographing pandals
Joining our Photo Rewards program? A mini phone tripod or clip-on LED helps after 8pm when club lighting is dramatic but handheld shots blur. Do not use a harsh flash toward the idol or other visitors — a small fill light angled down is enough for faces in dark lanes.
With children or older family
Add wet wipes, one ORS or electrolyte sachet per person, and a light snack. Identify a meeting point before you enter the densest pandals. Mornings and early afternoons are calmer; see our area guides to shortlist pandals before you leave.
What we do not recommend carrying
Large DSLR kits unless you are a serious photographer, heavy shopping bags, or duplicate puja items you can buy once at home. Keep the bag minimal — security checks and crowds are easier with less.
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