Brief history of Sovabazar Rajbari Durga Puja:

Establishment & Age: Sovabazar Rajbari Durga Puja is one of Kolkata’s oldest and most historically significant aristocratic (bonedi-bari) pujas. It was started by Maharaja Naba Krishna Deb in 1757, immediately after the Battle of Plassey. In 2026, it is in its 270th year.

The puja is held at the family’s ancestral palace at Raja Nabakrishna Street. It is widely regarded as the first major Durga Puja in Calcutta and a key moment in the evolution of the festival from rural zamindari worship to an urban, cosmopolitan celebration.

Location: 33 & 36, Raja Nabakrishna Street, Sovabazar (Shobhabazar), Kolkata- 700005, North Kolkata

Historical Significance:

• Post-Plassey celebration: The inaugural puja in 1757 was organised to mark the British victory at Plassey. British officials such as Robert Clive and Warren Hastings were among the invitees.
• Urban bonedi tradition: It set a pattern for Durga Puja as a status symbol among Kolkata’s emerging merchant and aristocratic class.
• Two family pujas: After the birth of his son Raj Krishna in 1782, Naba Krishna built a second palace at No. 36 and started another family puja there in 1790. Both continue as separate bonedi-bari pujas within the same lineage.
• Continuity of ritual: For centuries the family maintained traditional rites, including animal sacrifice on Saptami, Ashtami and Navami, which continued until at least 2019.

USP:

• Heritage landmark: Sovabazar Rajbari is a living heritage site where Durga Puja has been celebrated continuously since 1757.
• Colonial-era history: Its direct connection with the Battle of Plassey and early British Indian political history makes it unique among Kolkata’s pujas.
• Bonedi-bari ritual authenticity: The puja preserves older forms of worship, including elaborate family rituals, traditional idol style and long-established ceremonial practices.
• Architectural setting: The historic thakurdalan, courtyards and palace architecture provide an authentic 18th–19th century atmosphere rarely found in modern theme pujas.
• Cultural memory: The puja is frequently referenced in studies of Kolkata’s Durga Puja as the starting point of the city’s urban barowari/sarbojanin culture.

In Summary:

Sovabazar Rajbari Durga Puja, begun in 1757 by Maharaja Naba Krishna Deb and now in its 270th year, is Kolkata’s first major urban Durga Puja. Its USP lies in its direct link to the Battle of Plassey, its role in shaping Kolkata’s aristocratic puja culture, and its continuity of traditional bonedi-bari rituals within a historic palace setting.