Hatibagan Nabin Pally Sarbojanin Durgotsav

Brief History of Hatibagan Nabin Pally Sarbojanin Durgotsav:

• Establishment & Age: Hatibagan Nabin Pally Sarbojanin Durgotsav started in 1934, making it 91 years old in 2025.
• Location: 11/1D, Ganendra Mitra Lane, Hatibagan, Kolkata- 700004, North Kolkata, opposite Hatibagan KFC & Pizza Hut.

Themes:

• 2025 Theme: “Amar Desh, Amar Durga” (“My Country, My Durga”) – celebrates the valor and sacrifice of women freedom fighters from the Quit India Movement (Bharat Chharo Andolan), resurrecting their stories as a tribute to India’s fight for independence.
• 2024 Theme: “Theater Para” (“Theatre Neighbourhood”) – themed after Kolkata’s celebrated theatre culture, recreating iconic old theatre halls like Noti Binodini and Rangana with facades, archives, posters, and live skits paying tribute to great artistes and technicians from Kolkata’s theatrical golden era.
• 2023 Theme: “Abol Tabol Para” – themed on Sukumar Ray’s 100-year-old literary masterpiece ‘Abol Tabol’, where the entire neighbourhood was turned into a fantasy landscape inspired by the book’s illustrations and characters, including immersive art, performative elements, and interactive installations.
• Past Years: Past installations have featured international truck art, Kawad art from Rajasthan, and themes rooted in history, literature, and atypical artistry, often sparking conversation and city-wide curiosity.

USP:

• Immersive Art: Integrates neighbouring houses and lanes into the theme, turning the entire locality into an artistic, walkable installation rather than just focusing on the pandal itself.
• Social & Cultural Depth: Regularly selects ideas that revive lost heritage (theatre, revolutionary women, literary classics) and prompt reflection on Bengal’s intellectual, social, or artistic past.
• Community and Performance: Local residents act in skits and performances as part of the theme (especially in 2024, with enactments of theatre personalities and icons).
• Media Spotlight: Its bold themes, transformation of space, and unique storytelling have earned frequent coverage and praise in top media and “must-visit” puja lists.

Additional Notes:

• Artisan Collaborations: Led by theme artists like Anirban Das and Raju Paul, ensuring each year’s creation is visually distinctive and conceptually rich.
• Legacy and Crowds: Its blend of heritage, creative daring, and public participation has built a devoted following and made it a staple for Kolkata’s puja hoppers.

In summary:

Hatibagan Nabin Pally Sarbojanin Durgotsav, established in 1934, is famed for turning history, literature, and social consciousness into immersive art installations. Every year, it transforms its neighbourhood with boundary-pushing themes – ranging from ‘Abol Tabol’ to Kolkata’s theatre legacy and India’s freedom struggle – making it one of North Kolkata’s boldest, most creative, and community-rooted pujas.