Early Khuti Puja at clubs for more puja prep time
Kolkata: Many
organisers in the city held their Khuti Puja on Wednesday, making an early start to the months-long planning for Bengal's biggest festival. The puja coincided with Snan Yatra; it is usually held around Rath Yatra, which falls on June 27 this year.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
With Shashthi on Sept 28 and Dashami on Oct 2, puja committees are planning in advance to complete their elaborate pandals, lighting, and artistic installations without last-minute rush. Some committees had even conducted Khuti Puja in the second week of May. Organisers are also factoring in delays and time lags due to the weather, official clearances, and other factors.
Paddapukur Youth Association held their Khuti Puja on Wednesday evening, which was early by at least two weeks.
"This time we are holding Khuti Puja early to help us complete puja preparations in time," said Subhankar Roychoudhury of the association.
Beadon Street Sarbojonin Durgotsab and Gouribari Sarbojonin Durgotsab held their respective Khuti Puja on Wednesday. " This early start will help us avoid the last-minute rush," said Abhijit Das, a member of Beadon Street Sarbojonin Durgotsab.
At Thakurpukur SB Park Sarbojanin, the Khuti Puja was held in the third week of May, said Sanjay Majumdar, club secretary.
"In the past, we saw that several man-days were lost due to the weather. Starting early gives some elbow room," said a member of Ballygunge Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee, which organised Khuti Puja on May 25.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Puri king's younger brother Ranarnab Deb passes away
Bhubaneswar: Ranarnab Deb, younger brother of Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, passed away following prolonged illness in the early hours of Monday. He was 67. Ranarnab, who was known as 'Thaata Raja', is survived by 'Thaata' queen Soma Debi (63) and prince Devraj Deb (37), family sources said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said that Ranarnab, an enthusiast of travel, wildlife and business, held no official duties at the shrine, unlike his elder brother, who serves as the first and foremost servitor of Lord Jagannath. "Thaata Raja's death will not impact king Dibyasingha Deb's seva puja during the Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra. As the Thaata Raja wasn't a temple servitor, daily shrine rituals will continue normally," Biswajit Dash, late Ranarnab's manager, told TOI. Family sources said Ranarnab was hospitalised in Puri recently. "Thaata Raja had liver cirrhosis. He died of cardiac arrest on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday," said Dash. Ranarnab's funeral took place at Puri Swargadwar with royal honours. The pyre was lit using flames from the temple's kitchen. Following royal customs, his remains were taken on shoulders by four men in a 'covered kokei' (a frame made of bamboo and tied with straw ropes). Palace priests conducted the last rites. CM Mohan Charan Majhi, deputy CMs Pravati Parida and K V Singh Deo, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Puri MP Sambit Patra, among others, expressed their condolences. "I am deeply saddened to hear about the demise of the Thaata Raja of Puri, Ranarnab Deb. My condolences to the bereaved family. May Lord Jagannath grant them patience and strength in this hour of unbearable grief. I pray at the feet of Lord Jagannath for the peace and solace of the departed soul," the CM wrote on X.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Patiagarh gears up for annual sojourn of deities
Bhubaneswar: A strong urge to revive age-old traditions and preserve culture inspired villagers of Patiagarh to resume Rath Yatra in 2010 at their 18th century Jagannath Temple, after a gap of 78 years. Revival of Rath Yatra shows its importance among the villagers, who ensure the festival is organised every year peacefully and smoothly. Adwait Charan Champati, former managing trustee of Sri Jagannath Temple Trust Board, Patia, said they first conducted research on rituals and rules before deciding to revive Rath Yatra in the temple. "The whole village was excited to hold Rath Yatra again," he added. He said they discussed in detail the height of the chariot and the length and width of the road (400 metres) to be used for the annual sojourn of the sibling deities from Jagannath Temple to Mausima Temple (Sri Gundicha Ghar Gopinath Deb Mandir) located in the heart of Patiagarh village. "It took one and a half months to construct the chariot. Batakrushna Moharana of Old Town built it. We faced several challenges during chariot construction in 2010, but everything was solved with divine intervention," he recalled. Rajaguru Kartik Prasad Tripathy, managing trustee of the temple trust board, said construction of the chariot began on Akshaya Tritiya. "The structure of the chariot remains the same, but its weak parts are replaced every year. Villagers are eager to celebrate the festival this year with great devotion," he added. The event attracts thousands of visitors from surrounding areas who come to witness pulling of the chariot. "We also organise singing, dancing and other cultural programmes between Rath Yatra and Niladri Bije. As this is the most important festival in our locality, we give it utmost priority every year," Tripathy added. Ananta Charan Mishra, priest of the Patia Jagannath Temple, said he feels lucky to get an opportunity to take part in the festival. "Though we have to work very hard on Rath Yatra day, the effort is worth it. Its a blessing to serve Lord Jagannath and his siblings," he added. Mamata Jena, 50, a villager, said she never misses the Rath Yatra. "The chariot is decorated with artwork and colourful clothes. We eagerly wait for the festival every year. I cannot express my feelings in words. Rath Yatra has a special place in my heart," she added. Another villager, Rajendra Prasad Mohanty, said the festival promotes unity. "We are happy that we are continuing the rich tradition. It has immense importance in our lives," he added.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
From churches to temples & gurdwaras, city prays for crash victims
Kolkata: Churches across Kolkata offered prayers and tributes to the victims of the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash that occurred on Thursday. Several Durga Puja organisers also offered prayers and tributes during Khuti Puja, the formal ritual marking the start of the preparations for Durga Puja. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Friday, several mosques, including Nakhoda Mosque on Zakaria Street, where worshippers gathered after the Friday prayers to recite verses and offer collective dua, sought peace for the victims and strength for their grieving families. Several gurdwaras also held special prayers. On Sunday, churches, including the Old Mission Church on RN Mukherjee Road, St John's Church on Council House Street, and the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary in Burrabazar, observed special prayers for the victims, their family members, and the people involved in rescue operations during their regular Sunday mass. Devotees lit candles and prayed for the deceased and their loved ones in an atmosphere marked by quiet reflection and sorrow. At St John's Church, Father Pradip Kumar Nanda led the Sunday service. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of so many lives in the Ahmedabad plane crash," said Rangan Dutta, church officer. "During our Sunday service, we offered prayers for the souls of the departed and comfort to their grieving families. At times like these, we are reminded of our shared humanity, and we pray for healing, peace, and strength for all those affected," he added. "Let us remember the distressed families of those passengers who were on the London-bound Air India flight which crashed on Thursday. May God's peace and comfort help them to cope with this tragedy. Also, let us pray for God's wisdom and strength for those who are helping the victims and families of this tragedy," was the prayer at the Old Mission Church. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Many city-based Durga Puja organisers also paid homage to the departed souls of the Ahmedabad plane crash victims on Sunday. Samaj Sebi Sangha, in their 80th year of puja, dedicated their Khuti Puja to the deceased and their family members of the tragic incident, where all the participating male members of the club were dressed in white clothes as a mark of respect. "We worship Maa Durga as 'Durgatinashini', who is the destroyer of all sufferings, eliminates hardships and obstacles. We pray to her so that in the future this type of horrible incident should not happen again," said Arijit Maitra, general secretary of the club. Before the heart-breaking incident took place Maitra had planned to dedicate the event to all the fathers as it was organised on Father's Day. Bhowanipur 75 Palli, during Sunday's theme banner release programme along with a blood donation camp, observed a minute of silence to honour the deceased before the beginning of the event on their 61st year of puja. "We are all dumbfounded after the disastrous incident and what we can do more except pray to Maa," said Subir Das, club secretary. Soumojit Das, joint secretary of Entally Kanthal Bagan Sarbojonin, has already put up condolence hoardings in their locality and plans to pay homage to the crash victims during their upcoming Khuti Puja on June 27. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Joka organised a special prayer during the Sunday morning assembly which happened as per schedule worldwide. "Monks prayed for the strength for the families of the crash victims during the last 15 minutes of the assembly," said Manish Jasani, a senior devotee.
