India, Oct. 17 -- The festivities centring around this year's Durga Puja have long begun, and Kolkata has already started swaying to the beats of dhakis (traditional drummers) with thousands of people hitting the streets, hopping from one pandal to another in their new attires.

The Durga Puja officially started with Bodhan (the ritual performed on Sasthi, the sixth day, to awaken the Mother Goddess) on Friday.

While this is the first Durga Puja after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power with a sweeping victory in May this year, ousting the 15-year-old Mamata Banerjee administration, this year's celebrations and festivities have their own share of praise and controversy.

HT take a look at what has changed this Durga Puja compa...