The Kathmandu Post on October 9, 2026 carried a first-person account by Bikas Rauniar detailing his recent return to Kolkata. Rauniar, a freelance photojournalist based in Kathmandu who previously worked for Kantipur Newspaper, wrote that it was superb to be back in Calcutta, the city of joy. He has been visiting the Indian metropolis for various reasons since his first trip in 1985, when he arrived during the Durga Puja festival and explored its bustling streets. The Nepal Picture Library holds more than 23,000 images from Rauniar’s body of work, according to its records.
Rauniar’s latest contribution includes photographs of artisans in Kumartuli preparing almost ready idols of Durga for delivery to pandals ahead of the annual festival. In his X post on September 30, 2026, Bikas Rauniar (@bikasrauniar) said, “Happy to spend some time with great artists busy making idols for the upcoming Durga Puja in Kumartuli, Kolkata, WB.” The images reflect the intersection of old traditions and the restless energy of everyday life across the city’s streets, riverbanks and neighbourhoods. A UNESCO listing from 2021 inscribed Durga Puja of Kolkata on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The festival draws massive community participation each year with elaborate pandals and artistic idols crafted by skilled artisans whose families have practiced the craft for generations in Kumartuli, historical accounts of the city show. Rauniar’s account highlights how the city maintains its cultural vibrancy despite the passage of decades since his initial visit. His work as a photojournalist has previously focused on Nepal’s political upheaval and social changes, a December 2025 Facebook post by UP WORDS magazine noted.
Rauniar’s long-standing connection to Kolkata adds depth to his visual storytelling of the region, The Kathmandu Post feature indicated. The piece brings attention to the continuity of cultural practices in one of India’s major metropolitan centers. Readers gain insight into both the photographer’s personal journey and the living heritage of Durga Puja through his lens, according to the publication.
Kolkata, affectionately called the city of joy, continues to inspire artists and visitors with its rich history and dynamic present, Rauniar’s reflections stated. Rauniar’s repeated visits over more than 40 years illustrate the pull of its unique character, his article showed. The published piece serves as a visual and narrative bridge between Nepal and the Bengali cultural sphere.
The article underscores the role of photography in preserving and sharing cultural moments across borders, according to the publication. Rauniar’s career spanning analogue to digital eras has equipped him with a distinctive approach, interviews with the photographer have indicated. His documentation of Durga idol preparation adds to the global visual archive of this important festival.
This visit in 2026 allowed Rauniar to witness the ongoing preparations that have defined Kumartuli for centuries, his photographs demonstrated. The combination of personal reflection and photographic evidence offers a compelling portrait of a city in constant yet tradition-bound flux, The Kathmandu Post presented.
