Allen Park on Kolkata’s Park Street will host its first Durga Puja this year, featuring traditional rituals, cultural programmes and evening aarti.
Allen Park on Park Street will host a Durga Puja for the first time this year, marking a new addition to Kolkata’s festive landscape. The puja will be organised by Kolkata Sanatani Sangha, a group led by several BJP functionaries.
The organisers said they aim to create a distinctly Bengali celebration rooted in Sanatani traditions while showcasing the cultural diversity of Bengal.
Cultural Programmes and Grand Aarti Planned
The puja committee includes BJP general secretary Navin Mishra, who is also co-in-charge of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Bengal, as secretary, and BJP spokesperson Shankudeb Panda as president.
According to the organisers, the celebration will feature cultural programmes highlighting Baul music and traditions from Purulia, Bankura, North Bengal and other parts of Bengal.
A grand evening aarti is also planned throughout the festival, modelled on the Ganga aarti in Varanasi. Prasad will be distributed during the main days of the festival.
The organisers are also considering beginning cultural activities from Mahalaya, although the formal puja rituals will commence from Chaturthi.
Allen Park Has a Long Festival History
Allen Park has been associated with Christmas celebrations since 2011 and previously hosted the Park Street Carnival.
The venue became the site of the six-day Park Street Carnival in 2007, after the Society for Park Street Rejuvenation Kolkata was formed. The festival was later taken over by the Bengal government and expanded.
Navin Mishra said there had not traditionally been a Durga Puja at Park Street, although a small puja was reportedly held at the location more than 200 years ago on one or two occasions.
Organisers Say Puja Will Not Affect Christmas Celebrations
Mishra said the new Durga Puja would not interfere with Park Street’s traditional Christmas celebrations.
He said the organisers have no objection to people celebrating Christmas and want the area to retain its established festive character while also representing Bengali and Sanatani culture.
The committee is also reaching out to prominent citizens, businesspeople, academics and retired professionals in the locality to serve as patrons. Organisers said they want the event to remain accessible to the public and free from political pressure.
Focus on Traditional Rituals
Pandal construction has already begun, while a Bhoomi Pujan is scheduled for the following week. The organisers said the ritual would follow Sanatani traditions.
The committee hopes the new puja will attract visitors from Kolkata and neighbouring districts, particularly for its cultural programmes and evening aarti.
With Allen Park preparing for its first Durga Puja, the event is set to introduce another major festival to one of Kolkata’s best-known cultural and entertainment districts, while attempting to preserve Park Street’s established identity.
Key Takeaways
- Allen Park will host its first Durga Puja this year.
- The event will be organised by Kolkata Sanatani Sangha.
- Cultural programmes will showcase traditions from across Bengal.
- A grand evening aarti and prasad distribution are planned.
- Organisers say the puja will coexist with Park Street’s Christmas celebrations.
