Haranath Chakraborty plays the dhak while Arup Roy and Geetashree look on at Olabibitala Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee’s khunti puja

With the once-in-four-years Football World Cup festival out of the way, clubs are now getting back to the humdrum of preparing for the annual autumn festival back home. July 6 was a big day for most clubs as they organised the ceremonious khunti puja that sets the ball rolling for Durga puja. As grand as the bodhon, khunti puja these days are attended by TV or film stars and their presence determines the stature of the pujas.

The star-studded khunti puja at Olabibitala Sarbajanin Durgotsav Committee gave a sense of the things to come at this big budget puja of Howrah. TV artistes Geetashree Roy of Rashi fame and Rajasree Bhowmick of Jal Nupur and Isti Kutum on Star Jalsa along with minister Arup Roy and mayor Rathin Chakrabarty attended the celebration. Film director Haranath Chakraborty was also present.

Jhulan Goswami and Prasun Banerjee at Halderpara Friends’ Association. Pictures by Gopal Senapati

The puja committee has appointed Calcutta theme maker Subodh Roy, whose Behala Buroshibtala Janakalyan Sangha theme on Rajasthan had attracted huge crowds last year and won many awards. This year the artist has thought of a theme on sunflowers at Olabibitala. Titled Shaktirupey Suryamukhi, the pandal will look like a garden of sunflowers with a swarm of colourful butterflies over it. Inside, the idol will have traditional daker saaj. The budget this year at this club is Rs 12 lakhs.

Halderpara Friends Association will be celebrating its golden jubilee this year with a theme puja. The stars in attendance at this puja were Howrah MP Prasun Banerjee, cricketer Jhulan Goswami and others on July 6 at the club. Although the pandal’s theme has already been decided and artist Santanu has also been appointed, the club members preferred to keep their theme idea a secret at least for now. The budget this year is Rs 15 lakhs.

Hajarhaat Kalitala Sadharan Durgotsav organised by Shibpur Janaseva Samity will be celebrating its 51st year of Durga puja this year. The khunti puja in July had TV actor Manali attending. Calcutta artist Snehasish Manna is the theme maker here who will depict the victory of good over evil in a budget of Rs 12 lakhs.