Dilip Guha, Sasraya News ★ New Delhi, 14th September, 2025 : With Durga Puja just around the corner, the festive spirit is beginning to stir across Delhi NCR as organizers commence preparations with the traditional Khuti Puja. This ritual, deeply rooted in Bengali culture, marks the ceremonial beginning of pandal construction. Held weeks before Mahalaya, Khuti Puja involves sanctifying the site with offerings and prayers, invoking Goddess Durga’s blessings for a safe and successful celebration. It’s more than just a religious rite; it symbolizes a moment of community gathering where volunteers, artists, and devotees come together to lay the spiritual and creative foundation for the festival.
The rising popularity of the auspicious tradition of “Khuti Puja” is evident, as it was once primarily known in Kolkata, the main epicenter of Durga Puja. Nowadays, several puja committees in Delhi have started organizing Khuti Puja, a special ritual held before erecting the pandals to kick off the festivities. During this occasion, a puja is conducted to revere Lord Vishwakarma, after which artisans begin constructing the pandal with his blessings. These pandals are temporary pavilions that house the deities. Although Khuti Puja is not specified in the Vedas, it is performed to ensure an auspicious start to the forthcoming Durga Puja preparations and serves as an invocation to the goddess.
Matri-Peeth Greater Noida West KaliBari is poised to celebrate a remarkable milestone as it enters its fifth consecutive year of Durga Puja festivities—now widely recognised as one of the largest and most vibrant community Pujas in the Delhi-NCR region. Organisers organised the “Khuti Puja” on Sunday,14th September 2025.
What began as a modest initiative has blossomed into a cultural landmark, drawing thousands of devotees annually from Greater Noida, Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram. This year, the celebrations will unfold at the expansive open ground near Paramount Emotions, adjacent to Yathartha Hospital in Greater Noida West, where organisers proudly claim to host the “biggest” Durga Puja pandal in the area.
This year, Maa Durga arrives on an elephant (Gaja Vahan), a divine sign of prosperity and happiness. The Puja will be conducted in authentic Bengal tradition with purohits and dhakis specially invited from Bengal to ensure every ritual retains its sanctity.
With its scale, spirit, and stellar programming, Matri-Peeth’s Durga Puja promises to be a landmark celebration—honouring heritage, fostering community, and invoking the divine presence of Maa Durga in the heart of Greater Noida West. The main festivities will commence on Maha Panchami, September 27, 2025, with the much-awaited Ananda Mela, and continue through to Maha Vijaya Dashami on October 2, 2025, when devotees bid farewell to the Goddess with deep reverence and joy.
In conversation with this reporter, Amit Sengupta, Chairman of Matri-Peeth, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the community for its unwavering support and devotion. “Each year, devotees gather here to seek the blessings of Maa Durga, and we are humbled by the love and participation that continues to grow,” he shared. He also highlighted the expansive lineup of activities planned for this year: “There will be cultural programs, stalls, fancy dress competitions, food, joy rides, quiz shows, fun games, and much more. A large stage will host the performances, and opposite it, a vibrant food court will serve festive delicacies.”
Adding to the celebratory fervour, the evenings will feature a rich array of cultural performances by acclaimed artists. Headlining the entertainment are Satyajit Deb Roy, 2nd Runner-up of Zee SaReGaMa, and Tanushree Das, a Top 5 finalist from the same platform. The lineup also includes S. Kumar, a magician trained under the legendary P.C. Sorcar; Achin Goswami, renowned for his mime and horbola performances in Germany; and the dynamic duo Ujjawal Sikdar and Priyanka Bose. A classical dance recital by Srijani Nritya Kala will further elevate the cultural tapestry, blending tradition with artistic finesse.
The leadership team echoed the sentiment of collective pride and devotion.
Prasanta Saha, President, remarked, “Matri-Peeth has become a unifying force in the Greater Noida West community. Each year, our participation grows, and the blessings of Maa Durga touch more lives.”
Monoj Biswas, Vice President & Head General Secretary, added, “This Puja is possible only because of the collective spirit and seva of our members. Their devotion makes Matri-Peeth special. He further added that Matri Peeth Kalibari was founded to build the largest Kali Bari in Greater Noida West on 17th December 2019, and is a Charitable Socio-Cultural Religious Organization that aims to promote Bengali Culture & Diversity. “We believe in contributing to society by being involved in philanthropic activities like blood donation, education for underprivileged children, etc, apart from giving touch culture to all Probasi Bengalis (residing outside Bengal) with their roots,” he said.
Mithun Chatterjee, Secretary, concluded, “We aim to blend spirituality and culture, creating an unforgettable experience for all devotees.”
