Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsav 2026 Khuti Puja: The 81st Year Celebrations Have Officially Begun!
It is official. It is real. And it is happening.
Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsav 2026 has performed its Khuti Puja — and with that one sacred ritual, the 81st chapter of one of South Kolkata's most beloved Durga Pujas has been formally written into existence.
We have been following this puja ever since their stunning "Ramayana — An Epic Woven in Time" theme banner dropped and took the internet by storm. And now, with the Khuti Puja done, the journey from idea to reality has truly begun.
We were lucky enough to get exclusive photos from the ceremony, and we are here to take you through every beautiful moment of it.
What Is Khuti Puja? (For Those Who Are New Here)
If you are new to the world of Durga Puja — or if you are a puja lover who has always just shown up on Shashthi without knowing what happened before — let us take a moment to explain why Khuti Puja is such a big deal.
Khuti Puja is the inaugural ritual that every Durga Puja committee performs to officially begin their preparations. The word "Khuti" means a bamboo or wooden post — and planting it in the ground is a symbolic act of declaring: "We are beginning. Maa Durga, please bless this space, this work, and this celebration."
It is not just a formality. It is a spiritual commitment. A promise made to the goddess, to the neighbourhood, and to the community.
Without the Khuti Puja, no pandal work begins. The priest chants, the sacred fire is lit, rituals are performed, and the first bamboo pole is planted — and from that moment, an entire community comes together to build something magical.
For the people of Alipore, this is the moment they have been waiting for all year.
The Khuti Puja of Alipore Sarbojanin 2026: What We Saw
The photographs from the ceremony are warm, full of life, and — honestly — quite moving.
The Venue and Backdrop
The bottom portion of the backdrop featured the Ramayana branding repeated in a neat grid — a very professional and intentional design touch that shows how seriously this committee takes even the pre-puja events.
The Sacred Folk Art Poster
In the second photo, behind the ceremony in progress, you can spot something truly beautiful — a hand-painted folk art style poster featuring Ram, Sita, and Lakshman, rendered in the warm, bright colours of traditional Bengali Patua art. This confirms that the Ramayana theme will not be approached through a single visual lens — the committee is drawing from multiple Indian art traditions to tell this timeless story.
This is exactly the kind of thoughtful, layered art direction that makes Alipore Sarbojanin stand out year after year.
The Ceremony
The Khuti Puja ritual was in full swing in the photos — a sacred banana trunk (which traditionally serves as the symbolic "khuti" in many Bengali pujas) was at the centre, surrounded by earthen lamps, ritual flowers, and puja items. The flickering lamp light against the festive backdrop created a beautiful, intimate atmosphere.
The Team Behind the 2026 Magic
From the official backdrop visible in the ceremony photos, we can see some key names behind this year's puja:
- Artist: Anirban Das — the creative force responsible for the Ramayana-themed art this year.
- Design: Sankar [Da/Acharya] — handling the visual and graphic design of the theme.
- President: Vivek Kajaria — leading the committee into their landmark 81st year.
The committee members were seen exchanging garlands and being honoured — a moment that speaks to the warmth and community spirit that makes Sarbojanin (meaning "for everyone") pujas so special.
The smiles in the photographs say everything. This is a group of people who genuinely love what they do, who have been waiting for this moment, and who are absolutely ready to pour their hearts into creating something unforgettable this year.
Why the Khuti Puja Matters More in 2026
Every year, Khuti Puja is special. But this year, it carries extra weight.
This is the 81st year of Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsav. Eighty-one years of an unbroken chain — of generations of families in Alipore giving their time, their money, their sweat, and their love to keep this tradition alive.
And this year, they have chosen the Ramayana — "An Epic Woven in Time" — as their theme. Think about that phrase: "woven in time." The Ramayana itself is a story that has been woven into the fabric of Indian life for thousands of years. And this puja has been woven into the fabric of Alipore life for 81 years. The theme and the puja itself mirror each other perfectly.
The Khuti Puja was not just the start of a year's preparations. It was a moment of two timelines coming together — an 81-year-old community tradition, and an epic that is thousands of years old.
What Comes Next: The Road to Durgotsav 2026
With the Khuti Puja done, the real work begins. Here is what typically follows after this milestone:
The pandal construction will now begin in earnest. Given the Ramayana theme and the temple-stone aesthetic of the banner, expect the construction team to be working on something architecturally ambitious — possibly a pandal inspired by ancient South Indian temple gopurams or the temples of Ayodhya.
The idol will be sculpted and shaped over the coming weeks, with the final touches happening just days before the puja. We expect the Durga Ma idol this year to carry elements inspired by the Ramayana — perhaps echoing the stone-carved majesty of the theme or incorporating motifs from the epic's most iconic moments.
The lighting and sound design will come together in the final stretch. For a theme this grand, the atmosphere inside the pandal is going to be something extraordinary.
And we will be right here, bringing you every update as it happens. 🙏
About Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsav 2026: Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Puja Name | Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsav |
| Year | 81st Year (2026) |
| Theme | Ramayana — An Epic Woven in Time |
| Location | 50, Alipore Park Road, Alipore, Kolkata |
| Artist | Anirban Das |
| Nearest Metro | Kalighat Metro Station (Green Line) |
| Facebook Page | Alipore Sarbojanin Kolkata |
How to Follow Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsav 2026 Live
The committee is active on their official Facebook page — Alipore Sarbojanin Kolkata — where they will be sharing behind-the-scenes updates, pandal construction photos, and announcements as Durgotsav 2026 approaches. Give them a follow — you won't regret it.
And of course, bookmark www.durgapujaofkolkata.com for all the latest updates, photo galleries, and guides from across Kolkata's puja season.
The Countdown Is On
Durga Puja 2026 in Kolkata is expected in the last week of September. That means there are just weeks left — and the Alipore Sarbojanin committee has already lit the sacred lamp that marks the beginning of the journey.
From banner to Khuti Puja, and now to pandal, idol, and finally Maa Durga herself — every step from here is one step closer to the most magical five days of the year.
We cannot wait to see what this team creates with the Ramayana. And something tells us, it is going to be one for the memory books.
Missed our first post? Read the full theme and banner reveal here: Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsav 2026: Ramayana — An Epic Woven in Time | 81st Year Theme Revealed
Follow the official Facebook page: Alipore Sarbojanin Kolkata on Facebook
