SB Park Sarbojanin Khuti Puja 2026: Thakurpukur's Beloved Durga Puja Lights Up Its 56th Year!
That's exactly what happened on 21st June 2026, when Thakurpukur SB Park Sarbojanin performed their Khuti Puja and Bhumi Puja, officially kicking off the countdown to their 56th Sharadotsav. And just like every year, it felt like someone had quietly whispered into the city's ear — "Ma is coming."
If you're a Durga Puja enthusiast, a Behala local, or someone who loves discovering the soul of Kolkata's community pujas, sit down. This one's for you.
First Things First — Who Is SB Park Sarbojanin?
State Bank Park Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee — popularly known as SB Park Sarbojanin — is one of South Kolkata's most recognised and beloved Durga Puja committees. Their pandal is located at S.B. Park, Panchanantala, Thakurpukur, Behala, South Kolkata.
What makes them stand out in a city that hosts thousands of pujas? The answer is simple: consistency, community, and creativity.
This puja was first started in 1971, and the founding story is as heartwarming as it gets. A group of 84 families from the State Bank Park residential locality came together with a shared dream — to celebrate Maa Durga as a true community, not just as individuals in their own homes. That one dream has now lived for over five decades, and today it stands tall as the 56th edition of what has become one of Thakurpukur's most anticipated festivals.
For over half a century, through political changes, economic shifts, floods, and even a global pandemic, this puja has never stopped. That's not just tradition — that's devotion.
What Happened on June 21st, 2026 — The Khuti Puja and Bhumi Puja
The Khuti Puja and Bhumi Puja (খুঁটিপুজো ও ভূমিপুজো) were performed with full rituals and devotion, marking the Shubha Suchana — the auspicious beginning — of the 56th Sharadotsav of Thakurpukur S.B. Park Sarbojanin Durgotsav.
The official announcement read (in Bengali):
"ঠাকুরপুকুর এস.বি. পার্ক সার্বজনীন দুর্গোৎসব" এর খুঁটিপুজো ও ভূমিপুজোর মধ্যে দিয়ে ৫৬ তম বর্ষের শারদোৎসবের প্রস্তুতির শুভ সূচনা হলো।
Translated: "Through the Khuti Puja and Bhumi Puja of 'Thakurpukur S.B. Park Sarbojanin Durgotsav', the auspicious beginning of the preparation for the 56th year's Sharadotsav has been initiated."
In that one evening, four months before Durga Puja, a community came alive. Neighbours gathered. Children ran around. Elders watched with that quiet pride that only comes when you've seen something grow from a seed into a tree. And everyone — whether they came in their best clothes or rushed straight from work — felt it. That collective heartbeat that tells you: the season has begun.
But Wait — What Exactly Is Khuti Puja? (And Why Does It Matter So Much?)
Khuti Puja is one of Bengal's most cherished pre-Durga Puja rituals. The word Khuti or Khunti means a bamboo pole or pillar, and the puja is essentially the worship of this bamboo pole that will form the structural base of the pandal (the temporary temple structure built for Durga Puja).
But it's so much more than just blessing a bamboo stick.
Khuti Puja is rooted in the centuries-old tradition of Kathamo Puja — the ritual worship of the wooden or bamboo frame upon which the clay idol of Goddess Durga is built. In traditional bonedi bari (aristocratic household) pujas, the Kathamo Puja would mark the exact moment when the idol artisan formally begins the sculpting process. The Kathamo — the primary structural skeleton — was considered sacred, an early physical manifestation of the Goddess herself.
As community sarbojanin pujas evolved over the decades, this practice transformed into the Khuti Puja — where a beautifully decorated bamboo pole is ceremonially planted at the spot where the pandal will stand, invoking blessings for a smooth, successful, and spiritually powerful celebration ahead.
Think of it this way: before you build a house, you do a bhumi puja. Before you start a new business, you light a lamp and pray. And before Kolkata's pandal makers set up the months-long creative process that goes into building a Durga Puja, they perform a Khuti Puja. It is an invocation — to the Goddess, to the earth, to the community — that says: "We are ready. Bless this beginning."
And in recent years, Khuti Puja has grown into a full celebration of its own. Puja committees across Kolkata, from heavyweight names like Singhi Park to beloved neighbourhood pujas like SB Park, have turned this ritual into a mini festival — complete with mantras, conch shells, marigold decorations, and the warmth of neighbours coming together months before Durga Puja itself.
56 Years — A Legacy That Grows Stronger Every Year
Here is something worth letting sink in: 56 years is not a small number.
The year was 1971. The world was changing dramatically. And in the middle of all of it, 84 families in Thakurpukur decided to bring their goddess home together. They didn't have the resources of bigger committees. They didn't have corporate sponsors or celebrity architects. They had each other, their faith, and their love for Ma Durga.
And now, 56 years later, their puja is one that the whole Behala area looks forward to.
Over the decades, SB Park Sarbojanin has become known for:
- Creative, thought-provoking themes that make pandal hoppers think, not just look
- Social welfare activities that go beyond the five days of Puja — including blood donation camps, medical camps, distribution of school uniforms and study materials to economically challenged students, providing wheelchairs and sewing machines to those in need, and financial support for meritorious students who cannot afford education
- A strong sense of community where every family in the neighbourhood feels a sense of ownership over "their" puja
This is the kind of puja that a child in Thakurpukur grows up with. It's the puja their parents took them to on Saptami evening. It's the puja where they met their childhood friends every year. And one day, it becomes the puja they bring their own children to. That cycle — that continuous, loving thread across generations — is what gives SB Park Sarbojanin its heartbeat.
Why Durga Puja in Thakurpukur Is Special
Behala and Thakurpukur are often called the unsung heart of South Kolkata's Puja culture. While the world queues up for Deshapriya Park or Mohammad Ali Park, those who know — really know — will tell you that the most genuine Puja experiences are often found in neighbourhoods like this one.
Thakurpukur has a charm that's hard to describe but easy to feel. The roads fill up with fairy lights. Street food vendors set up their stalls. Children run ahead of their parents, already in their new Puja clothes even though it's only Panchami. The air smells of dhoop and marigolds. The sound of the dhak starts softly from a distance and gets louder as you walk closer to the pandal.
And then you step inside — and there she is. Maa Durga.
With her ten arms, her fierce eyes, and her eternal calm, she stands at the centre of it all. And somehow, despite everything that has happened in the world all year, everything feels okay.
What to Expect at SB Park Sarbojanin Durga Puja 2026
While the full details of this year's theme and design will be unveiled closer to Durga Puja (typically in September-October), here's what you can always count on at SB Park Sarbojanin:
The Pandal: Every year, the committee works with talented artists and designers to create a pandal that has a specific theme and message. Past years have featured deeply thoughtful concepts, and 2026 — being their 56th edition — is expected to be something truly special.
The Idol: The Durga idol at SB Park is always crafted with care and artistry. You won't just see a beautiful idol — you'll feel the devotion that went into making it.
The Community Atmosphere: This isn't a commercialised mega-puja. This is a neighbourhood puja. You'll see the elderly aunty who has been coming here since 1975. You'll see the young couple bringing their toddler for the first time. You'll see college kids laughing with dhak players. This is what Durga Puja really is.
The Cultural Programs: Like most respected sarbojanin pujas, SB Park hosts cultural evenings during Puja — music, dance, and performances that add to the festive spirit.
The Social Cause: Every year, the committee uses the Puja season as an opportunity to give back. Whether it's blood donation, medical camps, or support for underprivileged students, SB Park Sarbojanin reminds us that the spirit of Ma Durga isn't just about celebration — it's about compassion.
For the Pandal Hoppers: How to Get to SB Park Sarbojanin
Planning your Puja pandal hopping route? Here's where you need to head:
Address: S.B. Park, Panchanantala, Thakurpukur, Behala, South Kolkata – 700 063
By Metro: Thakurpukur Metro Station (Green Line / Joka-Esplanade Line) is your closest stop. It's a very convenient way to reach especially during peak Puja traffic.
By Bus: Several buses connect Behala and Thakurpukur from across South and Central Kolkata.
Follow them on Facebook: SB Park Sarbojanin Official Page
Pro tip: Visit after 8 PM on Saptami or Ashtami for the best crowd energy and lighting. Mornings work beautifully if you want peaceful darshan and time to appreciate the pandal decoration in detail.
The Magic of Khuti Puja — A Countdown That Belongs to Everyone
Here's something beautiful about Khuti Puja that often gets overlooked.
When a puja committee performs their Khuti Puja in June, they're not just following a ritual. They're sending a message to their entire neighbourhood: "We haven't forgotten. We're already working. Ma Durga is coming, and we're getting ready."
For people who live away from Kolkata — for Bengalis in other cities, for the diaspora across the world — seeing photos and videos of their local puja's Khuti Puja on social media is like getting a letter from home. Suddenly, June doesn't feel so far from October. The countdown is real. The excitement is real.
And for those of us in Kolkata? It's the reminder we needed that the best time of year is just around the corner.
So when SB Park Sarbojanin planted that beautifully decorated bamboo pole on the evening of June 21st at Panchanantala, Thakurpukur — they did something much bigger than a puja committee beginning their preparations. They lit a small flame in the heart of every person who loves Durga Puja. And that flame will only grow brighter as the months go by, until one magnificent October evening, when the dhak beats loud and Ma Durga arrives.
Stay Connected — Don't Miss a Moment of SB Park Sarbojanin 2026
Durga Puja 2026 is going to be extraordinary. And SB Park Sarbojanin — in their 56th glorious year — is going to make sure their celebration is one to remember.
Here's how you can stay updated:
Official Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/statebankpark
Follow them for theme reveals, pandal making updates, idol photos, and live coverage during Puja.
And of course, keep coming back here to Durga Puja of Kolkata — your one-stop destination for everything Durga Puja, from Khuti Puja in June to Bijoya in October.
Final Thoughts — 56 Years and Still Going Strong
Fifty-six years ago, 84 families decided that worshipping Ma Durga together was better than doing it alone. That decision — made by ordinary people with extraordinary hearts — gave birth to something that has now outlived generations, survived decades of change, and continues to grow stronger with every passing year.
The Khuti Puja of 2026 is not just the beginning of a year's preparations. It is the 56th such beginning. And each beginning carries within it the memory of every one that came before — the laughter, the tears, the devotion, the togetherness.
To the SB Park Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee and every member, volunteer, and devotee who makes this puja happen year after year: thank you. For keeping the flame alive. For keeping the tradition living. For reminding us, every single year, what it means to come together in joy and faith.
Asche Bochor Abaar Hobe. 🙏
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