D urga Puja, Bengal’s most important festival, began a few days ago with Mahalaya, the day that marks the start of the seven-day festivities . It is believed that on Mahalaya, goddess Durga begins her descent from her marital home at Mount Kailash to her parents’ home on Earth, accompanied by her four children. Each year, her vehicle of choice changes — sometimes a boat, sometimes an animal, sometimes a palanquin — a detail you’ll find reflected in the idols across pandals.

But alongside rituals and revelry, Durga Puja is also a week of indulgence — a gastronomic celebration that may not please the doctor, but certainly delights the taste buds. At the heart of it all lies mishti (sweets), with specific varieties marking specific days of the Puja. Their importance was highlighted star

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