US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor returned to Kolkata on Monday and immersed himself in the city’s renowned Durga Puja celebrations, visiting several pandals and interacting with local communities.

Sharing his experience, Gor said he was impressed by the creativity, strong community spirit and warmth that define the festival. He extended Durga Puja greetings to those celebrating and noted that he now understands why the occasion holds such deep significance for millions of people.

Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is among the most important Hindu festivals. It commemorates Goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura and symbolises the triumph of good over evil. The festival also marks the goddess’s annual visit to Earth to bless devotees.

In West Bengal, especially Kolkata, the celebrations are famous for their intricately designed pandals, large-scale artistic installations, cultural performances and community gatherings that attract visitors from across India and overseas. In 2021, UNESCO inscribed Durga Puja in Kolkata on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising its cultural significance and social impact.

The principal days of Durga Puja in 2026 are scheduled from 17 October to 21 October. Key rituals associated with the festivities include Chakkhu Daan, the symbolic painting of the goddess’s eyes, Bodhan, Anjali and Sandhi Puja.

The festival concludes with Vijaya Dashami, when devotees bid farewell to Goddess Durga before the traditional immersion of idols in rivers and other water bodies.

Gor’s Kolkata visit forms part of his wider travels across India since taking office as US Ambassador. In recent months, he has visited Srinagar, Leh, Rajasthan and Amritsar as part of efforts to engage with different regions of the country and gain a deeper appreciation of India’s cultural diversity.

On 30 September, Gor hosted the US Ambassadors Regional Conference in India, bringing together American ambassadors and chiefs of mission from 11 South and Central Asian countries to discuss regional priorities and diplomatic engagement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined the gathering virtually and interacted with American diplomatic representatives from across the region.

Earlier, during a visit to Amritsar, Gor toured the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum, describing the experience as memorable and expressing gratitude for the warm hospitality he received.

ANI