Kolkata Techie Builds App to Help Pandal Hoppers Navigate Durga Puja
Every year, as autumn arrives, Kolkata seems to wake up in a way no other season can manage. During Durga Puja, the dhaak beats echo from every corner, the smell of freshly painted pandals mixes with the crisp evening breeze, and suddenly the city feels alive in a different rhythm. The streets glow with lights that seem to mirror our own excitement, and the air is filled with the mingling of incense, street food, and laughter.
With hundreds of pandals scattered across the city, the choices can feel overwhelming even for seasoned pandal-hoppers. Where do we begin, and how do we not miss the biggest pujas?
That very question set Suporono Sarkar thinking. A tech enthusiast from Kolkata, he decided to build a unique app named Durga Puja Parikrama that maps Durga Puja celebrations across the city. What began as a simple idea has now grown into a comprehensive digital guide covering the metropolitan city from Dum Dum in the north to Behala and Narendrapur in the south. The app features more than 450 puja pandals in Kolkata.
At its core is an interactive map designed to make pandal-hopping seamless. Real-time location tracking helps users navigate the city, while major pandals are highlighted in yellow colour for quick recognition. Visitors can filter Pujas by region or navigate curated categories such as the historic Bonedi Bari celebrations. For those who prefer a simpler format, the app also offers a list view—ensuring that both the grand, iconic pujas and the more intimate neighborhood gatherings are just a tap away. In a season where the city itself turns into one grand carnival, Sarkar’s app promises what pandal-hoppers crave most: not just directions, but a sense of order amid the Puja chaos.
Growing up in Kolkata, Pandal-hopping is an annual tradition for Suporno. The excitement of visiting pandals is often overshadowed by the difficulty of navigating the routes. Earlier, he relied on printed maps distributed by the Kolkata Police. Later, an app became available but it was limited to Android users. “When I first started going out with friends, I hopped Durga mandap carrying a physical copy of the Durga Puja map of Kolkata. These maps are still being distributed by Kolkata police. But I did not want to carry physical maps. I decided to make use of my coding skills and come up with my own app. I made this app for myself. When I shared the app with my friends and they liked it. I feel good that Kolkata folks are now finding my app useful,” said Suporno.
When asked about his personal connection to durga puja, he said “I am a Bengali guy. The joy of Durga Puja is woven into the very fabric of my being. I think most Bengali people will agree with me here. The lights, the pandals, the dhaak beats, and the fragrance of shiuli flowers mark not just a festival, but an emotion. It’s the time when the entire community comes alive, when friends and families reunite, and every street feels like home.”
Disclaimer: This isn’t a sponsored piece. Our Civicwit editors stumbled upon this app and loved it, so we’re sharing it purely because we think our readers will find it interesting and useful.
