Brief history of Babubagan Sarbojanin Durgotsav:

Establishment & Age: Babu Bagan Sarbojanin Durgotsav is a community Durga Puja in South Kolkata’s Dhakuria–Selimpur area. It began in 1962; in 2026, it is celebrating its 65th year.

The puja is organised by the Babubagan Club and is held at the Tarkeshwar Sen Uddyan (Babubagan Playground) in the Selimpur–Dhakuria neighbourhood.

Location: 14, Babu Bagan Lane, Tarkeshwar Sen Uddyan, Dhakuria, Kolkata- 700031, South Kolkata

Themes:

• 2025 – “Oitijher Bonge Loko Toronge” (“In Traditional Bengal, Folk in Waves”): The 64th-year theme presented Bengal’s royal palaces, thakur dalan, folk dance and folk music in a single immersive environment, with daily live performances.
• 2022 – “Maa Tujhe Salaam” (Coin theme): In its 61st year, the pandal was designed around commemorative coins issued since Independence, with around 150 coins (original and replicas) used to create a “coin museum” around the idol. The concept paid tribute to freedom fighters and 75 years of India’s independence.
• 2021 – Renaissance theme: The decorations highlighted Bengal’s renaissance and its key figures.
• 2020 – Burdwan theme: The pandal showcased Burdwan district’s food, culture and traditions.
• 2019 – Patachitra theme: Decorations were based on traditional scroll painting (patachitra).
• 2018 – Terracotta temple replica: The pandal was modelled after a classic Bengali terracotta temple.

USP:

• Strong cultural focus: The committee consistently chooses themes rooted in Bengal’s culture, history and folk traditions, rather than purely decorative or spectacle-driven concepts.
• Innovative material use: The 2022 coin-themed pandal demonstrated originality in using numismatic material as both décor and storytelling device.
• Live folk programming: Recent editions have included daily live folk music and dance, reinforcing the connection between worship and living cultural practice.
• Community service: The puja is associated with activities such as blood donation camps and distribution of clothes to the needy, extending the festival’s social role.
• South Kolkata accessibility: Its location near Jodhpur Park, Selimpur and Kalighat makes it easy to include in a South Kolkata pandal-hopping route.

In Summary:

Babubagan Sarbojanin Durgotsav, started in 1962 and now in its 65th year, is a South Kolkata community puja in the Selimpur–Dhakuria area. Its USP lies in culturally rich themes – such as Bengal’s folk traditions (2025) and the unique coin-based “Maa Tujhe Salaam” pandal (2022) – combined with live folk performances and community service, making it a meaningful and accessible stop on the South Kolkata Durga Puja circuit.