Ahiritola Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity — 87 Years of Tradition and Heritage In the auspicious year of 1940, the worship of the Divine Mother began at Ahiritola Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity. The founding President of the Samity was Sir Harishankar Pal. Alongside him, the Samity was founded and nurtured by the dedicated efforts of the eminent social worker Shri Jaharlal Chandra. On the evening of Maha Shashti, at the sacred Bilva tree, the chanting of sacred mantras by learned priests heralded the awakening of divine power. The call to awaken the Goddess resonated through thousands of voices: “Awaken, O Divine Mother! Manifest, O Giver of Strength! Destroy the darkness! Vanquish our enemies! Remove pettiness, selfishness and fear! Manifest through the love of unity, the power of truth, art and knowledge!” At that sacred moment, the distinguished social worker Shri Atulya Ghosh was scheduled to be the Chief Guest. However, owing to his illness, the honour of occupying the Chief Guest's seat fell upon Shri Bishwanath Mukhopadhyay, one of the secretaries of the Bengal Provincial Rashtriya Samiti. And so the journey continued. Today, after 86 glorious years, we are preparing to dedicate ourselves once again to the worship of the Divine Mother in the 87th year of our Durga Puja.

A Glorious Legacy Over these eight and a half decades, the Samity has been associated at various times with numerous distinguished personalities who have made significant contributions to society and Bengal. Among them were former Chief Minister of West Bengal Shri Prafulla Chandra Sen; eminent Supreme Court advocate Shri Pashupati Bhattacharya; former Principal of Narsingh Dutt College Shri Harimohan Sheel; former Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Shri Bijoy Singh Nahar; and Shri Tushar Kanti Ghosh, Editor of Jugantar, among many other eminent and respected personalities. Among the earliest pioneers of the Puja were Shri Shyamacharan Saha, Shri Manik Chandra Saha and Shri Badal Saha. It was through their tireless efforts, dedication and devotion that the first incarnation of this Puja became a reality.

Evolving with Time Time moves forward, and so do we. The form and expression of our worship of the Divine Mother have evolved over the years. Yet, the spirit of tradition, devotion and dedication has remained unchanged. Through the tireless efforts of generations of senior members as well as young men and women, Ahiritola Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity has continued its journey towards a new horizon. To inspire the community and usher in a new chapter for the Puja, the distinguished social worker of the locality, Shri Saroj Banerjee, took over as President. The responsibility of steering our Sharadotsav was entrusted to Shri Sushanta Kumar Saha, affectionately known and deeply respected by all as Kachi Da. Under the leadership of Shri Sushanta Kumar Saha, Ahiritola has succeeded in creating a distinctive identity for itself on the map of North Kolkata's Durga Puja celebrations. His sincerity, dedication and remarkable ability to lead by bringing everyone together continue to inspire and motivate us even today.

Carrying the Legacy Forward Today, the responsibility and leadership of the Puja have been taken up by Shri Shamik Kumar Saha (Bappa Da), the worthy son of Shri Sushanta Kumar Saha. He is determined to preserve the rich heritage and glorious history handed down by his predecessors, while creating a meaningful harmony between tradition and modernity and elevating the Sharadotsav to new heights of artistic excellence. It is this harmonious blend of heritage, creativity and contemporary expression that continues to define the journey of Ahiritola Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity.

Art, Recognition and the Spirit of the People Over the years, the Durga Puja of Ahiritola Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity has brought immense joy to countless people through its artistic excellence and creative expression, while also earning recognition through numerous prestigious awards. Among the most notable achievements are the Asian Paints Sharad Samman awards of 1996 and 1997. In addition, our Puja has repeatedly received recognition through several prestigious awards organised by leading newspapers and television channels, including Anandabazar Sharad Arghya, Pratidin Sharad Samman, ABP Ananda Sharad Sera, Kolkata Shree and Biswa Bangla Sera-r Sera, among others. Every year, the immense tide of millions of visitors, combined with the recognition received for our artistic excellence, has enabled Ahiritola Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity to establish a distinctive place for itself on the cultural map of Kolkata and West Bengal.

Beyond the Puja — A Commitment to Society For us, Durga Puja is not merely a festival celebrated over a few days. It is also a year-round commitment to standing beside people and serving society. Throughout the year, the Samity undertakes various social welfare initiatives, including: - Blood donation camps and free health check-up camps. - Distribution of blankets and clothing free of cost among underprivileged people. - Drawing competitions for children of the locality. - Providing Benarasi sarees free of cost to underprivileged girls of marriageable age. - Financial assistance to underprivileged dialysis patients from the locality. - Financial assistance towards surgeries for poor and critically ill patients of the locality. - Observance of the birth anniversaries of great patriots and eminent national figures.