Siliguri, Oct. 19 -- Amid the dense forests of the Dooars in north Bengal, where elephants move between protected habitats and generations of forest dwellers have lived close to nature, Durga Puja holds a special place in community life. At Chilapata Forest, the annual celebration is not merely a religious festival but also a living tradition that brings forest officials, tea garden workers and neighbouring village communities together.
The Chilapata Range Durga Puja has been celebrated since 1984. Over the decades, it has become an important part of the cultural life of the forest region, reflecting the close relationship between the Forest Department and the people living around the sanctuary.
"Chilapata Range Puja has been in existence...