Chetla Sarbasadharaner Durgotsab Turns 100: Inside the Khuti Puja and Banner Reveal That Kicked Off a Century of Devotion
There's a particular kind of goosebumps you get when you realise something you've watched every year of your life is turning 100. That's exactly the feeling rippling through South Kolkata right now, because Chetla Sarbasadharaner Durgotsab, one of the city's oldest and most emotionally rooted community Pujas, is stepping into its 100th year in 2026.
And it didn't start quietly. It started with fire on the water, a priest's chant carried by the breeze off the Adi Ganga, and a wooden pole driven into sacred ground — the Khuti Puja — the ritual that, for a hundred years now, has told the people of Chetla: the Ma is coming home again.
If you've been searching for what's happening at Prasannamoyee Ghat, why this year is different from every other year, and what the now-viral banner with the words "Pujo Shrarosh Pujo" actually means — you're in exactly the right place. Grab a cup of tea, because this is a story worth sitting with.
A Puja Older Than Most of Our Grandparents
Most of us grew up thinking of Durga Puja pandals as things that get bigger, shinier, and more Instagram-worthy every year. But Chetla Sarbasadharaner Durgotsab isn't chasing trends — it's been quietly writing its own history since long before "theme pujo" was even a phrase.
A hundred years is not a small number. It means this Puja survived the Partition years, independence, the licence-raj decades, economic liberalisation, the digital boom, and even a pandemic that emptied out pandals across the city. Through every single one of those decades, the community at Chetla gathered, year after year, to welcome Ma Durga home. That kind of continuity isn't built by committees or budgets — it's built by generations of ordinary people who simply refused to let the tradition break.
This year, that unbroken chain reaches its centenary, and the organisers have made it clear this isn't going to be just another Puja — it's going to be a tribute to a hundred years of collective faith.
What Exactly Is Khuti Puja — And Why Does It Matter So Much?
If you're new to the Bengali Puja calendar, Khuti Puja might sound like a small, technical ritual. It's anything but.
The Khuti Puja is the ceremonial installation of the first bamboo pole (khuti) at the site where the pandal will eventually rise. Think of it as the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony — except instead of cutting a ribbon, priests perform full Vedic rites, invoking blessings on the land itself before a single bamboo structure goes up. It marks the official, spiritual beginning of months of preparation: the pandal design, the artisans' work, the idol-making, the lighting, the community planning — everything that follows traces back to this one quiet, sacred morning.
For a hundred-year-old Puja like Chetla's, the Khuti Puja isn't just a ritual box to tick. It's the moment the entire neighbourhood pauses and says, together, "here we go again, and this time, it's the big one."
The Details You Need to Know
- Event: Khuti Puja of Chetla Sarbasadharaner Durgotsab, marking the start of the 100th year celebrations
- Date: 26th July 2026 (Sunday)
- Time: 10:00 AM
- Venue: Prasannamoyee Ghat Road, Chetla, South Kolkata
- Organised by: Chetla Sarbasadharaner Durgotsab Committee
If you live anywhere near South Kolkata, this is one of those mornings worth waking up early for — not for spectacle, but for the quiet weight of watching a hundred-year tradition renew itself in real time.
Ganga Aarti at Prasannamoyee Ghat: A Prelude Nobody Should Miss
A day before the Khuti Puja, on 25th July 2026 (Saturday) at 6:00 PM, the committee is holding a Ganga Aarti at Prasannamoyee Ghat — and honestly, this might be the more soul-stirring of the two events.
There's something about aarti performed on the banks of a river at dusk — the layered brass lamps, the rhythmic clanging of bells, the reflection of fire trembling on dark water — that photographs can never fully capture. Prasannamoyee Ghat, historically tied to this Puja's identity, becomes the perfect setting for this spiritual curtain-raiser. It's the committee's way of saying: before we build anything, before we plan anything, we bow to the river and the divine feminine energy that has watched over Chetla for a century.
If you're a photographer, a devotee, or simply someone who loves soaking in Kolkata's ritual culture, this Ganga Aarti deserves a spot on your calendar right alongside the Khuti Puja itself.
Decoding the Banner: "Pujo Shrarosh Pujo"
By now you've probably seen the striking centenary banner circulating on social media — deep amber tones, a priest mid-aarti with flames leaping around him, and bold text that reads "পুজো শুরুর পুজো" ("Pujo Shurur Pujo" — literally, "The Puja that begins the Puja").
It's a clever, almost poetic bit of branding, and it captures exactly what Khuti Puja represents in the larger Durga Puja timeline. Before the pandal-hopping crowds, before the dhak beats fill the air, before the five days of Shashti to Dashami — there is this one moment, this one small Puja, that sets the entire hundred-day countdown in motion. The banner isn't just marketing; it's a genuinely accurate description of the emotional and ritual significance of what's happening at Prasannamoyee Ghat this July.
Why the 100th Year Feels Different
Every Puja committee says their year is special. But there's a reason Chetla's claim actually holds up:
- A century of continuous celebration — surviving wars, economic shifts, and a pandemic without breaking the chain.
- Community-first identity — this has always been a "sarbasadharan" (people's) Puja, meaning it belongs to the neighbourhood, not a single patron or sponsor.
- Historic ghat association — Prasannamoyee Ghat isn't a random venue; it's tied deeply to the locality's cultural memory.
- A centenary programme building up over months — starting with Khuti Puja in July, this is clearly meant to be a slow, meaningful build-up rather than a last-minute rush in September.
For long-time Kolkata residents, watching a hundred-year-old community Puja hit this milestone is a quiet reminder of why Durga Puja became a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event in the first place — not because of grandeur alone, but because of exactly this kind of unbroken, people-powered devotion.
Planning to Visit? Here's What to Keep in Mind
- Best time to arrive: Reach Prasannamoyee Ghat at least 20–30 minutes before the scheduled time for both the Ganga Aarti and Khuti Puja to find a good vantage point, especially given the centenary crowd expected.
- What to bring: A camera or phone with good low-light capability — the Ganga Aarti in particular is a visual and emotional experience best captured (respectfully) in the moment.
- Getting there: Chetla is well-connected via Kolkata Metro (nearest stations on the Purple/Orange lines) and regular bus routes through South Kolkata; autos are easily available from Chetla crossing.
- Dress comfortably: Both events involve standing for a while amid crowds, so light, breathable clothing is a good idea, especially in July's Kolkata humidity.
Follow Along for the Full Centenary Journey
This Khuti Puja and Ganga Aarti are just the opening notes of what promises to be a landmark year for Chetla Sarbasadharaner Durgotsab. As the committee gears up for the pandal reveal, theme announcement, and the main Puja days later this year, we'll be covering every milestone right here on Durga Puja of Kolkata — from pandal-hopping guides to behind-the-scenes looks at how Kolkata's most iconic community Pujas come together.
For real-time updates directly from the organisers, do follow the official page: Chetla Sarbasadharaner Durgotsab on Facebook.
And if you're already planning your Puja calendar for 2026, don't forget to check out our other South Kolkata Puja coverage and our deep-dive on the history of Sarbojanin Durga Puja in Kolkata — because understanding where these traditions come from makes pandal-hopping this Ashtami hit that much different.
Ma is on her way home. And in Chetla, the celebration has officially begun.
Have you attended the Khuti Puja or Ganga Aarti at Prasannamoyee Ghat before? Share your memories and photos in the comments — we'd love to feature reader experiences as we build our full centenary coverage of Chetla Sarbasadharaner Durgotsab throughout the season.
