Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja
Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja is one of the renowned durga puja in New Alipore area. It is organised by the Suruchi Sangha Club since the year 1952.
Brief History of Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja:
- Establishment & Age: Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja was established in 1952 in New Alipore, South Kolkata. The puja celebrated its 72nd year in 2024.
- Location: 500 & 505, Block M, New Alipore, Kolkata- 700053, West Bengal.
Themes:
- Signature Style: Suruchi Sangha is renowned for its innovative, art-driven, and often Bengali culture-centric themes, beautifully blending folk traditions, handicrafts, and motifs from various districts of West Bengal.
- Recent Themes:
- 2024: “Purano Sei Diner Katha” (“Tales of the Old Days”) – the pandal recreates vintage joys and highlights the emotional value of memories and family, protesting against the indifference shown to the elderly. The theme was supported by a song penned by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, with decor made from repurposed household items and vintage memorabilia.
- 2023: “Mati” (Soil) – focused on Bengal’s unique clay and terracotta traditions, incorporating local art forms like Patachitra and Dokra, and earning the “Greenest of the Green Puja” award for eco-friendly innovation.
- Earlier years: Celebrated rural crafts, the “Earth and Soil” motif, the festival mood (“Utsav”), humanistic themes (“Manusher Puja”), indulgence (“Abdar”), and peace for the world (“Prithivi abar Santo hobe”).
- Artistry: Suruchi Sangha’s pandals are recognized for detailed craftsmanship, use of regional crafts, sustainable materials, and spectacular visual storytelling.
USP:
- Cultural Representation: Showcases the diversity and richness of Bengal’s folk arts, rural industries, and crafts – turning each pandal into a living gallery of the state’s heritage.
- Social Messaging: Often weaves important social causes into its themes – elder care, environmental responsibility, rural empowerment, and community unity.
- Sustainability Leader: Multiple accolades for eco-friendly practices, including awards for using recycled materials, LED lighting, and “Green Puja” ratings.
- Community Service: The club undertakes substantial social work—such as donating clothes and books to the needy, organizing blood donation camps, and actively supporting thalassemia patients.
- Crowd Magnet: Suruchi Sangha consistently attracts some of Kolkata’s largest crowds, with lines often stretching for over an hour due to its spectacular artistry and immersive themes.
- Legacy & Prestige: Regularly awarded for best decoration and thematic excellence; cited as a must-visit and model Durga Puja of Kolkata and West Bengal.
Additional Notes:
- Accessibility: Easily reached by Kolkata’s metro networks—close to Kalighat and Rabindra Sarobar stations.
- Sports & Arts: The club is founded as a sports association, with ongoing sports and cultural activities year-round.
In summary:
Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja, established in 1952, is one of South Kolkata’s best-loved and most creative community pujas. It is acclaimed for its annual thematic extravaganzas, strong social engagement, eco-friendly approach, and celebration of Bengal’s rural artistry and culture – making it an enduring highlight of Kolkata’s Durga Puja map.
