Venue change as construction proceeds; organisers promise traditional appeal
Siliguri: The Central Colony Durga Puja Committee has initiated preparations for the 64th edition of its annual Durga Puja by performing the customary Khutti Puja, the committee reported on Sunday. Organisers said they had shifted the celebration this year to the Barrack Colony ground — adjacent to the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Police Station — after the festival’s long-standing site became unavailable due to construction of a railway stadium.
The move marks a significant logistical change for one of Siliguri’s older neighbourhood pujas. Committee members said they sought to preserve the festival’s traditional character while adapting to the constraints imposed by the development work at the original ground.
- Edition: 64th Central Colony Durga Puja
- New venue: Barrack Colony ground, adjacent to NJP Police Station
- Ritual: Khutti Puja performed to mark the start of preparations
Sourav Nath, Secretary of the Central Colony Durga Puja Committee, said the change of venue would not reduce the puja’s traditional appeal and expressed hope of attracting an even larger crowd than in past years. The committee has planned enhanced decoration, improved lighting and a series of cultural programmes to be held during the festivities, he said.
“We are organising the puja despite various challenges to uphold the long-standing tradition,” Sourav Nath said.
For many residents of Central Colony and surrounding areas, the annual puja is both a religious observance and a focal point of community life. The ground previously used for the puja is now the site of construction work for a proposed railway stadium, a development that prompted uncertainty about whether the committee could continue the celebration at its customary location.
Organisers report that, after assessing alternatives, they selected the Barrack Colony ground for its accessibility and proximity to the community. The location beside the NJP Police Station is expected to ease coordination with local authorities on crowd management and security arrangements.
The committee said the pandal will feature special decoration and lighting schemes, and several surprises are being planned as part of the cultural line-up. Pramotional and logistical preparations have begun following the Khutti Puja ritual, which symbolically fixes the festival’s site and calendar.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Organiser | Central Colony Durga Puja Committee |
| Edition | 64th |
| Venue (2026) | Barrack Colony ground (adjacent to NJP Police Station) |
| Reason for change | Original ground under construction for a railway stadium |
Residents and regular visitors to the Central Colony puja anticipate how the change will affect crowd flow, local traffic and the customary festive atmosphere. Local traders and vendors who depend on puja footfall were also said to be watching committee plans closely; the puja traditionally brings heightened commercial activity in nearby markets and food-stall areas.
Community-focused pujas in Siliguri often involve coordination with civic agencies to arrange lighting, sanitation, emergency services and power supply. The committee indicated that it would work with the relevant authorities to finalise these arrangements. Presence of the NJP Police Station adjacent to the new venue may assist in formalising security measures, organisers noted.
In recent years, Durga Puja committees across Siliguri have been adapting to urban changes: redevelopment, infrastructure projects and shifting public spaces. The Central Colony puja’s decision to relocate for 2026 underlines how such local festivals negotiate continuity amid the city’s broader growth and construction activity.
The committee has appealed to residents and devotees to support the move and participate in the upcoming festivities. Daily cultural programmes and decorations are planned, and further information on dates and schedules will be issued by the organisers as preparations progress.
As one of Siliguri’s enduring neighbourhood celebrations, the Central Colony Durga Puja remains a barometer of local civic life — its ability to adapt may determine how longstanding traditions continue alongside the city’s rapid infrastructural change.
