As the country prepares to celebrate Durga Puja from Monday, here are some colourful avatars of the deity.
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An artisan works on an idol of Goddess Durga, ahead of Durga Puja festival, in Allahabad. Photograph: PTI Photo
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Celebrations for Durga Puja aren't limited to West Bengal; an artist puts the finishing touches on his idol in Amritsar. Photograph: PTI Photo
A worker cleans the decoration pieces used to decorate a puja pandal ahead of Durga Puja festival in Kolkata. Photograph: Swapan Mahapatra/PTI Photo
Preparations are in full swing in Maharashtra for the festival. Photograph: PTI Photo
People carry Lord Durga idol to a pandal for installation ahead of Durga Puja festival, in Kolkata. Photograph: PTI Photo
A worker decorates a pandal or a temporary platform in front of an idol of goddess Durga for the upcoming Hindu festival of Durga Puja in Kolkata. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters
Labourers install a giant statue depicting "Mother India" at a pandal, or a temporary platform, ahead of the Durga Puja festival in Guwahati. Photograph: Anuwar Hazarika/Reuters