Staff Reporter –
West Bengal Commerce & Industries Minister Shri Tapas Roy joined Shri Lalit Beriwala, Trust Board Chairman, Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad, in performing the traditional Khuti Puja at Central Park, Salt Lake, marking the beginning of the organisation’s Durga Puja celebrations this year.
The occasion marks the beginning of preparations for a larger festive programme this year, with the Sanskritik Sansad bringing its Durga Puja celebrations together with its annual Dussehra Utsav and Ravan Dahan. The celebrations will be centred around the theme “Ram Er Ayodhya – Ram Ki Ayodhya”, weaving the cultural ethos associated with Shri Ram into the festive proceedings.
The Khuti Puja assumes significance as it was held by Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad for the first time this year, adding a new dimension to its long-standing festive tradition. The organisation has been hosting its annual Dussehra celebrations at Central Park for 14 years, drawing large crowds to the city’s festive calendar. Adding to the scale of the celebrations will be a series of spectacular shows, cultural features and engaging activities planned across the festive period, taking the experience from the opening of Durga Puja through to the grand Dussehra celebrations and Ravan Dahan. The programme is being designed to offer visitors a continuous festive experience, with elements that bring together culture, entertainment and the spirit of the season.
Hon’ble Minister Shri Tapas Roy and Lalit Beriwala, Trust Board Chairman, participated in the Khuti Puja ceremony, which was also attended by Sanjay Agarwal, President; Amit Poddar, Secretary; Binay Dubey, Convenor, and members of the organising committee. Prominent industry leaders present included Shri Ashok Todi of Lux Cozi, Shri R S Goenka of Emami Group, Shri Sajjan Bansal of Skipper, Anil Kumar Agarwal of SKG Pharma and Dilip Chowdhary of Anmol Biscuits. Representatives of supporting organisations, including Shyam Steel, Govvinda TMT, Adhunik Cement, Bengal Energy Limited and M Bazaar, were also present.
Shri Lalit Beriwala, Trust Board Chairman, Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad, said, “Durga Puja and Dussehra hold a special place in our cultural fabric, and this year’s theme brings the two celebrations together through a common cultural thread. ‘Ram Er Ayodhya – Ram Ki Ayodhya’ has the potential to make the celebrations particularly engaging for the community, while creating a meaningful setting to experience our traditions in a contemporary way. We are honoured to have Shri Tapas Roy join us for this occasion as we look forward to bringing the community together through a larger celebration spanning Durga Puja and Dussehra ” With the ceremonial Khuti Puja now complete, preparations will gather pace at Central Park as Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad gets set to take the celebrations from the beginning of Durga Puja through to the Dussehra festivities and Ravan Dahan, marking another significant chapter in the neighbourhood’s festive calendar.
