West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari inaugurated the Durga Puja 2026 festivities on Mahalaya and witnessed the drone show. He later shared a post about the celebration on his social media.
The wider programme featured traditional music, folk dances and performances by popular artists, while thousands of dhakis filled the venue with the rhythms associated with the approach of Durga Pujo. A light-and-sound presentation traced the festival’s journey, from the familiar Mahalaya radio broadcast to Sindoor Khela on Dashami. Against this cultural backdrop, the Durga Puja drone show by BotLab Dynamics emerged as a key attraction, drawing appreciation from spectators.
Footage of the performance from the Grand Mahalaya celebration was shared on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeU2CP_zE8T/.
With an estimated visibility radius of nearly 10 kilometres, the Kolkata drone show reached beyond the immediate event venue, attracting attention across the surrounding cityscape. Videos and reactions began circulating online as audiences watched the aerial formations, extending the experience beyond Eden Gardens and adding to the festive excitement across Kolkata ahead of Durga Puja.
The show was designed as an audio-led tribute to Bengal’s Mahalaya traditions, drawing inspiration from Agomoni, the homecoming of Uma as she returns to her family at the beginning of the festive season. Its narrative combined the emotions associated with this homecoming with the power of the Mahishasura Mardini story.
The Kolkata Mahalaya drone show opened with delicate Kaash Phool formations, evoking autumn and the first signs of Pujo. The sequence progressed to depictions of the Mangal Ghot and alta-adorned hands holding a lotus before introducing the looming presence of Mahishasura and Uma’s transformation into the ten-armed Goddess Durga.
As the narrative gathered momentum, the sky filled with symbols of Shakti, including the lotus, mandala and trishul. The formations then depicted the Goddess atop her divine mount and the climactic battle against Mahishasura. The presentation concluded with Chokkhudhaan, the ceremonial opening of the Goddess’s eyes, recreated through sweeping, brushstroke-inspired aerial formations.
The soundtrack added another layer of familiarity, incorporating the Chandipath recitation by Birendra Krishna Bhadra alongside “Bajlo Tomar Aalor Benu,” “Aigiri Nandini” and music accompanying the Chokkhudhaan sequence. Together, the visuals and audio shaped a Mega Mahalaya drone show rooted in Bengal’s cultural memory.
“Experiential storytelling works best when it begins with an audience’s existing connection to a place, a tradition or an emotion. For us, the opportunity lies in building on that connection and creating something people can share in real time. A Kolkata Drone Show during Mahalaya needed to feel unmistakably Bengali, not just visually impressive, but meaningful to the people watching it,” said Aayush Bector, Head of Business, BotLab Dynamics.
The Mahalaya showcase builds on BotLab Dynamics’ previous work in Kolkata, including its 2025 Amazon Durga Puja campaign at Uddipani Park Circus and its International Yoga Day Kolkata drone show at Prinsep Ghat in June 2026, which drew widespread online attention.
BotLab Dynamics, an IIT Delhi-incubated deep-tech company, develops its drone-show hardware and software in-house. With a fleet of more than 10,000 drones, over 700 shows and seven Guinness World Records, the company has presented aerial displays at major celebrations, including Mahakumbh, Ayodhya’s Deepotsav and Somnath Swabhiman Parv.
Following its record-setting aerial display at Mysuru Dasara in 2025, the company is preparing for further festive activities in Kolkata and Mysuru.
“The most memorable live experience moments are not created simply by what people see, but by what they feel. Mahalaya carries generations of memories for Bengalis, from the sound of Chandipath to the anticipation of Maa Durga’s arrival. Our intention was to honour that emotional connection and translate it into a visual story that people could experience together. When a crowd responds with folded hands, smiles and a sense of wonder, we know our drone show has connected with the souls of people, and that’s what we try to build with our festive drone shows,” said Dr Sarita Ahlawat, Founder & MD of BotLab Dynamics.
The celebrations will continue on October 15, when BotLab Dynamics is scheduled to bring its next drone show in Kolkata to Digha for Maha Panchami. While the Eden Gardens presentation centred on Mahalaya, Agomoni and the anticipation surrounding Maa Durga’s arrival, the upcoming show will explore another aspect of the Goddess and the festive narrative.
The upcoming Durga Puja drone show in Digha will provide audiences with another opportunity to experience the region’s festive spirit through aerial storytelling.
As Kolkata approaches the heart of Durga Pujo, the Eden Gardens presentation has brought Bengali cultural traditions into a contemporary public spectacle. BotLab Dynamics plans to continue its festive drone-show activities, focusing on experiences that bring people together, celebrate cultural identity and remain memorable beyond the performance itself. Further festive drone shows are planned as the company continues its journey across India.
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