Durga Puja celebrations have changed significantly in recent years. One of the markers of this change is the increased participation of women; as dancers in the visarjan processions, priests and dhakis (drummers), they have entered new territory. Many puja committees now feature women. This kind of agency has brought a new beauty and energy to the festival and been a correction of a strong traditional gender bias. Yet, often women’s participation is reduced to a novelty factor.