City witnesses vibrant Ganesh Puja celebrations across communities
Times of India | 28 August 2025
Kolkata: The city witnessed vibrant Ganesh Puja celebrations on Wednesday, as housing complexes, neighbourhood clubs, and community groups organised festivities across localities, marking the beginning of the festive season in the state. From Behala to Barrackpore, Lake Town to Lansdowne, several big and small pujas were held. In many places, including Kankurgachi and Phoolbagan, multiple pandals were set up within a few metres of each other, creating a festive atmosphere in the neighbourhoods. Pandal decorations this year combined traditional artistry with modern themes. Idols of Lord Ganesha, adorned with fresh flowers and intricate ornaments, stood at the centre of illuminated pandals.
Several complexes added cultural programmes and devotional music to the celebrations, drawing in families and children. At Greenwood Elements, in Action Area II in New Town, this is the 12th year they organised Ganesha Puja. "All residents get involved in the celebration since Tuesday evening. There was Ganesh Aarti held at the complex community hall followed by a community dinner. The celebrations here span across two days and mark the start of the festive season in our complex," said Dhrubajyoti Basak, a senior resident of the complex.
At Sukhobrishti complex, the celebrations reached a notch higher with pujas being organised at multiple blocks of the complex. "Since Tuesday, the complex is all decked up. There are multiple pujas happening in the complex, and it truly seems the festive season has begun. Following the puja and prasad distribution, there were multiple cultural programmes organised by residents of different blocks," said Sourav Mukherjee, a senior resident of the complex. | Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in KolkataAt the Executive Palace Complex on VIP Road, Baguiati, celebrations will continue till Sunday. The housing society has gone in for a patriotic theme titled ‘Veer Ganesha – Raksha ke Devta'. There has been a beeline of visitors to watch the art and installations," said Ankit Agarwal, secretary of the Executive Palace Complex.
At the community pujas, devotees began queuing up since the early hours, with queues forming outside popular pandals by evening. Many visitors offered prayers before heading to the distribution counters where prasad and sweets were served. "We have been organising Ganesh Puja for the past 19 years. Ganesh Chaturthi is no longer confined to Maharashtra or western India. In Kolkata too, people have embraced the celebrations because it brings people together ahead of Durga Puja. With many people getting into business, the god of prosperity has been gaining prominence," said Anirban Saha, cultural secretary of Phoolbagan Friends Club.
In Burrabazar, the celebrations extended into a larger community gathering with a mela that will continue till Sunday. Food stalls selling traditional snacks and sweets, along with small shops offering handicrafts and festive items, drew large crowds in the evening. Ramesh Agarwal, a member of the organising committee in Burrabazar, said, "Even people who have left Burrabazar and shifted to other places like Howrah and Bangur make it a point to visit the puja during this time.