Simla Byayam Samity 2026: Inside the 101st Khuti Puja of the Club That Started It All
There is a quiet lane in North Kolkata, somewhere near Swami Vivekananda's ancestral home, where a piece of bamboo gets planted into the ground every year — and an entire city's biggest festival quietly begins. If you walk through Singhee Lane on the morning of 28th June 2026, you won't see fireworks or grand pandals yet. You'll see something far more powerful: a hundred-year-old promise being renewed, one Khuti Puja at a time.
This is Simla Byayam Samity — the club that didn't just start a Durga Puja, but arguably started the very idea of Sarbojanin Durgotsab in Bengal. And this year, as the Samity steps into its 101st year, the sacred Khuti Puja on 13th Ashar 1433 (28th June 2026), a Sunday, at 11:00 AM, isn't just a ritual. It's a reminder of why community puja exists at all.
Where It All Began: 1926 and a Bamboo Stick That Changed Bengal
To understand why this particular Khuti Puja matters so much, you have to go back almost a hundred years, to a Calcutta still under British rule.
In the early 1920s, a young revolutionary named Atindra Nath Bose was deeply involved with the Anushilan Samiti, the underground movement that had rattled colonial authorities for over a decade. By 1925, communal tensions around Harrison Road had flared up badly enough that local youths started keeping round-the-clock watch over the Thanthania Kali Temple to protect it. Once the unrest settled, Bose and his associates felt the city's young men needed something else entirely — discipline, physical strength, and a shared purpose that could outlast any single crisis.
That's how Simla Byayam Samity was born on 2nd April 1926: not as a puja committee, but as a gymnasium. Wrestling, lathi (baton) fighting, and later military-style drills were introduced to prepare Bengali youth for the freedom struggle. But Atindranath had a bigger vision. Instead of keeping Durga Puja confined to a single household or a closed group, as was the norm at the time, he threw the doors open to everyone — regardless of caste, class, or background. No priest-led exclusivity, no invitation-only courtyards. Just one Goddess, worshipped by all.
That single decision is why Simla Byayam Samity is widely remembered today as the Pioneer of Sarbojanin Durgotsab — the original "puja for everyone" that planted the seed for the thousands of community pujas Kolkata now celebrates every Sharadiya.
The Netaji Connection: When a Freedom Fighter Became the Puja's Patron
Here's where the story gets even more remarkable. Simla Byayam Samity's Durga Puja wasn't just attended by nationalist leaders — it was led by them. Subhas Chandra Bose himself was closely associated with the Samity for years and went on to become its president in 1939, alongside stalwarts like Sarat Chandra Bose and Jyotindramohan Sengupta.
Under this influence, the puja took on a distinctly Swadeshi character. The idol was dressed in khadi instead of imported silk, earning it the popular nickname "Swadeshi Thakur." The festival grounds doubled as an open classroom, with folk art exhibitions on the Sepoy Mutiny, Bagha Jatin's last battle, and Vivekananda's philosophy displayed for ordinary visitors. By 1928, Birashtami — a martial display of valour — had become an integral part of the celebrations, drawing crowds who came as much for the patriotic energy as for the divine blessings.
It's a rare thing, finding a Durga Puja where the freedom movement and the festival of Shakti grew up holding hands. Simla Byayam Samity is exactly that.
So, Was It Really the "First" Sarbojanin Puja?
If you've followed Kolkata's puja history even casually, you'll know this is a gently debated topic. Earlier community-style pujas like the Sanatan Dharmotsahini Sabha and Sikdar Bagan had already begun experimenting with collective worship in the 1910s. What sets Simla Byayam Samity apart, according to most historical accounts, is that it was the first to deliberately and completely remove restrictions of caste and class from attendance — a true Sarbojanin spirit rather than a semi-open "barwari" arrangement among a closed set of families. That's the legacy this 101-year-old institution carries, and it's a title earned through intent, not just timing.
What Exactly Is Khuti Puja — And Why Should You Care?
If you're new to the term, Khuti Puja is essentially the festival's official "starting gun." Months before the actual Durga Puja, committees gather to ceremonially plant a decorated bamboo pole at the spot where the pandal will eventually rise. It's rooted in the older tradition of Kathamo Puja, where the wooden frame supporting a clay idol at heritage household pujas is itself worshipped as a part of the Goddess.
There's nothing in the scriptures that mandates Khuti Puja — it's a custom, not a Vedic rite. But that's exactly what makes it special. It's the moment a neighbourhood collectively says, "the wait has begun." For a club with Simla Byayam Samity's history, this isn't just symbolic; it's a 101-year-unbroken thread connecting today's bamboo pole to the one Atindra Nath Bose's generation planted in 1926.
If you enjoy following these countdown rituals across the city, our deep dive into Ekdalia Evergreen's 84th-year Khuti Puja is a great companion read, and our full archive of Khuti Puja stories from across Bengal will keep you updated as more clubs kick off their 2026 season.
101st Year Khuti Puja — All the Details You Need
Planning to attend, or simply want to mark the date for your Durga Puja calendar? Here's everything at a glance:
- Occasion: 101st Sarbojanin Durgotsab — Khuti Puja
- Date: 13th Ashar 1433 / 28th June 2026 (Sunday)
- Time: 11:00 AM onwards
- Venue: Simla Byayam Samity premises
- President: Sri Rajesh Kumar Sinha
- Working President: Smt. Sohini Roy
- Joint Secretaries: Sri Srigopal Upadhyay & Sri Surajit Kundu
The organisers have extended a warm, open invitation to "সকল শুভানুধ্যায়ী, সদস্য, ভক্তবৃন্দ ও এলাকার বাসিন্দা" — every well-wisher, member, devotee, and local resident — to be part of this milestone morning.
What to Expect on the Day
Don't expect grandeur just yet — that's still months away. What you will witness is something more intimate: a small, devoted crowd around a marigold-wrapped bamboo pole, the rhythmic beat of dhak announcing the moment, and conch shells echoing through Singhee Lane the way they have for over a century. Simla Byayam Samity has stayed true to its sabeki (traditional) roots even in its centenary year, and this Khuti Puja sets the tone for an idol that will likely continue that legacy rather than chase the hyper-modern pandal trend.
If you're someone who loves heritage walks through North Kolkata, this is a perfect addition to your itinerary alongside Vivekananda's ancestral home, which sits just a stone's throw away. For more on how North Kolkata's puja heritage has shaped the larger story of Sarbojanin Durgotsab, our Heritage section covers everything from Bonedi Bari traditions to the artisans of Kumartuli, including our feature on Kumartuli's idol-making legacy that shares roots with clubs like this one.
Frequently Asked Questions About Simla Byayam Samity's Khuti Puja
Is Simla Byayam Samity really the first Sarbojanin Durga Puja in Kolkata? It's widely credited as the first puja to be made genuinely open to people of every caste and class, founded in 1926 by revolutionary Atindra Nath Bose. A few semi-public "barwari" pujas existed slightly earlier, but historians generally point to Simla Byayam Samity as the moment Sarbojanin Durgotsab, in its truest sense, began.
What year is Simla Byayam Samity's Durga Puja celebrating in 2026? 2026 marks the 101st year of the Samity's Sarbojanin Durgotsab, following its centenary celebrations in 2025.
When is the Khuti Puja for 2026? The Khuti Puja will be held on 28th June 2026 (13th Ashar 1433), a Sunday, starting at 11:00 AM at the Simla Byayam Samity premises.
Who is involved in organising this year's celebration? The committee is led by President Sri Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Working President Smt. Sohini Roy, and Joint Secretaries Sri Srigopal Upadhyay and Sri Surajit Kundu, along with the wider body of members and well-wishers of the Samity.
What is the connection between Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and this puja? Subhas Chandra Bose was closely involved with Simla Byayam Samity for years and served as its president in 1939, lending the celebration a distinctly Swadeshi, nationalist character that earned the idol the nickname "Swadeshi Thakur."
A Hundred Years On, the Invitation Still Stands
There's a line in the Samity's own invitation this year that sums up everything beautifully: as they cross a century and step into their 101st year, they pray that Maa Durga's blessings fill everyone's life with happiness, peace, and prosperity. It's a simple message, but coming from the club that taught Kolkata what "puja for everyone" really means, it carries extra weight.
So mark your calendar for 28th June 2026. Whether you're a lifelong resident of the para, a heritage enthusiast, or simply someone who loves tracing Durga Puja back to its roots, this Khuti Puja is worth witnessing — even if just to stand on the ground where Sarbojanin Durgotsab was born.
For real-time updates, photographs, and announcements from the Samity itself, follow their official Facebook page. And to keep up with every Khuti Puja and Durga Puja 2026 update from across the city, bookmark Durga Puja of Kolkata — your home for everything Sharadiya, all year round.
