Facebook and Instagram launch a bundle of features and programming for #DurgaPujo2020

As Kolkata transcends into the festive season, Facebook and Instagram have launched a bundle of features and content programming, to help make your virtual celebrations as entertaining as possible. These include immersive AR filters and stickers to create fun and engaging Stories, Reels, Facebook posts and programming on specific hashtags like #DurgaPujo2020, #ShubhoMahalaya, #FBDurgaPujo, #IGDurgaPujo. 

Facebook and Instagram are platforms where people connect and express themselves, something that especially comes alive during festivals. Like every year, Durga Pujo will kickstart the festive period and be celebrated enthusiastically, but this time with a greater focus on virtual celebrations.

Manish Chopra, Director and Head of Partnerships, Facebook India, added, “With the onset of the festive season, cultural celebrations have gone virtual in the new normal. From capturing feelings and expressions to celebrating together, Facebook and its family of apps have always played an important role in bringing people together.  As we gear up to celebrate Durga Pujo, we’re glad to enable the connections and expression between friends and families, innovatively, in more ways than one.”

Prosenjit Chatterjee, Actor, further said, “With Pujo around the corner, I’m excited to partner with Facebook and Instagram to create a new AR filter to enable people to enjoy the festivities from their homes while staying safe this year. Watch out for the new filter as I will be posting tons of stories and videos of my celebrations in the new normal and look forward to seeing my fans enjoy it too.”

The new bundle of features include:

●     AR effect called ‘Pujaparikrama’ available on actor Prosenjit Chatterjee’s (@prosenstar) Facebook and Instagram accounts, which allows people to virtually experience the Pujo and pandal festive experience.

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/fbcameraeffects/tryit/2877312545836462/

Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/ar/1658029771040979/

●     AR effect called ‘Durga Pujo’ available on creator Kiran Dutta’s (@yourbongguy) Facebook and Instagram accounts, where you can switch between Ma Durga and an Asuram, with a casual tilt of your head; to express your moods/ personas or indulge in some fun reels & stories.

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/fbcameraeffects/tryit/1048037382275701/

Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/ar/824884764936550/

●     Durga Pujo GIFs - For the first time, there is a list of Durga Pujo GIFs which are easily searchable with the word 'Pujo', to make your Instagram Stories and Reels fun. These are designed to capture the spirit of the pujo from key days such as Saptami, Ashtami to key festive moments like Dhanuchi Naach' & 'Sindur Khela' 

The new content programming includes:

●     35 Kolkata’s favourite public figures and creators can be seen celebrating in the new normal, on Facebook & Instagram. This includes Prosenjit Chatterjee, Jeet and Ritabhari Chakraborty, Bong Guy, Priyam Ghose, Indrani Biswas (Wonder Munna), and more. This would be available through the festive period, using #DurgaPujo2020, #ShubhoMahalaya, #FBDurgaPujo and #IGDurgaPujo

●     The annual Durga Pujo awards for the best Pandals will be live on Facebook from October 22 - 26 with the awards declaration on October 28, 2020.

●     Facebook Live’s - Participate in Pujo rituals from home through various Facebook Live’s by the Ballygunge Cultural Association and the FFACE page.

●     Reely Phataphati Pujo - Pujo specific content on Instagram’s new short form video feature, Reels, will be available on the following hashtags -  #AmarPujoReel, #DurgaPujoReel, #FeelKaroReelKaro, #FeelItReelIt, #FeelKorboReelKorbo, #ReelyPhataphatiPujo, #PujoDekhechiReelKorechi, #PujoFeelershaateyReel, #PujoReelChallenge.