Durga Puja season has taken over Bengaluru’s Bengali pockets this year, with associations across the city putting up pandals that range from decades-old
neighbourhood traditions to newer community efforts competing for the best decor and cultural line-up. The city has one of the largest Bengali populations outside West Bengal, and that shows in just how many pandals go up every year, each with its own take on the festivities. For those not travelling back to Kolkata this year, here are six pandals worth visiting across the city.
Bengalee Association, Ulsoor
Set up at Sivanchetti Gardens on Assaye Road, this is one of the oldest cultural associations in the city. Its pandal draws steady crowds through the festival days, and its food court is one of the bigger draws, serving Bengali staples like aloo bhaja and kosha mangsho alongside the usual stalls selling snacks and sweets.
Socio-Cultural Association, Indiranagar
Held across the Sishu Griha and Poorna Pragna School grounds near HAL 3rd Stage, this puja is celebrating its 58th year in 2026, making it one of the longer-standing celebrations in the city. This year’s cultural line-up includes a traditional Agomoni dance performance, an in-house Folk Fiesta, and a high-profile musical evening featuring artists Adriz Ghosh and Piu Mukherjee.
Barsha Bengali Association, Haralur
Located off Sarjapur Road in HSR Extension, this pandal has previously won the Sharod Samman award for Best Durga Puja in Bangalore. The puja leans into a more traditional Kolkata-style setup, with food stalls, a book fair, shopping counters and live band performances running through the festival.
RT Nagar Socio Cultural Trust, Jayamahal
Set up at Gate 9 of the Palace Grounds on Jayamahal Main Road, this is counted among the biggest and grandest Durga Puja celebrations in Bengaluru. This year’s programme includes a performance by singer Poushali Banerjee, along with Bengali food stalls, a children’s play area, games and shopping counters, pulling in crowds from across the city rather than just the immediate neighbourhood.
Kolaj Socio-Cultural Trust, Koramangala
Based near Sri Krishna Temple, opposite Lazeez, this pandal is known for its creatively themed decor rather than following the usual traditional format, and is counted among the more visited pujas in the city. Alongside the daily aartis, the association runs a children’s art competition and a magic show through the festival.
Sarjapur Outer Ring Road Bengali Association, Doddakannalli
Held on the BBMP Ground off Kaadubeesanahalli Road, SORRBA runs its celebration across six days, longer than most of the other pandals on this list. The line-up includes cultural programmes, Bengali food counters, music evenings, a fashion show and live bands, with dhaak drummers performing through the puja days.
Planning Your Visit
Most of these pandals are spread across South and East Bengaluru, in pockets like Koramangala, HSR Layout, Indiranagar and Sarjapur Road, so a single evening is unlikely to cover more than two or three unless they’re close together. Evenings tend to draw the biggest crowds, especially on Ashtami and Navami, when cultural programmes and aartis are at their peak, so arriving a little earlier in the evening helps avoid the worst of the rush. Public transport options are limited directly outside most venues, so cab availability is worth checking in advance, particularly around the more crowded pandals like RT Nagar’s and Barsha’s. Food stalls at most of these pujas run through the evening, making it easy to pair pandal hopping with a proper Bengali meal rather than rushing between venues.
