The dew-kissed “Golden Autumn” is here, and with it comes the joyous arrival of the Divine Mother. This year, the Sharadotsav celebrations at Lakshmipur Chowdhury Bari in Paschim Medinipur are set to be truly historic. Blending deep-rooted traditions with grand festivities, the Chowdhury family invites everyone to partake in a legacy of devotion and cultural splendor.

A Historic Milestone for the Chowdhury Family

The Lakshmipur Chowdhury Bari is celebrating two incredible milestones this year. The family’s Kali Puja, dedicated to Sri Sri Ma Anandamoyee Shyama Thakurani, is entering its 506th year, featuring a beautifully renovated Kali temple. Simultaneously, their Durga Puja proudly marks its 320th year of heritage. To commemorate this, a newly reconstructed Durga temple will be officially inaugurated on Maha Shashthi, October 16, 2026.

Durga Puja 2026: Schedule and Cultural Highlights

The Durga Puja festivities will run from October 16 to October 21, 2026. Here is a glimpse into the daily rituals and evening cultural extravaganzas:

• Maha Shashthi (Oct 16): The day begins at 7 AM with a grand procession featuring women drummers, Ranapa, tribal dances, and a band. This is followed by the auspicious inauguration of the new Durga temple at 11 AM. Evening attractions include a saxophone performance by Abhijit Mondal at 6 PM and an Agomoni program at 7 PM.
• Maha Saptami (Oct 17 & 18): On October 17, the Goddess arrives on a horse. The evening will feature a performance by folk artist Parikshit Bala at 8 PM. October 18 highlights include a free eye check-up camp at 10 AM where free spectacles will be provided. The day continues with an inter-school quiz at 4 PM, a “Didi No. 1” event at 6 PM, and a midnight puja.
• Maha Ashtami (Oct 19): Following the Sandhi Puja in the morning, the evening will feature a special musical tribute to Hemanta Mukherjee by Satyajit Das at 8 PM.
• Maha Navami (Oct 20): The highlight of Navami is a 7 PM musical performance by Mumbai playback singer Vinod Rathod. He will be accompanied by the Bad Girl Dance Troupe, with the event hosted by MADDY from Kolkata.
• Vijaya Dashami (Oct 21): The Goddess will depart on a boat after the morning Visarjan. The festivities will close with a musical performance by the renowned Lopamudra Mitra at 6 PM.

Sri Sri Ma Anandamoyee Shyama Thakurani Kali Puja

The devotional spirit continues into the Kali Puja celebrations, featuring star-studded musical nights:

• November 9: A grand ‘Bichitranusthan’ orchestra begins at 7 PM. This features Zee Bangla’s Promi Giri, playback singer Supratip Bhattacharya, and Roy of Kiranmala fame, alongside the band “The Pancham” and anchor Raju Sen.
• November 1 (23rd Kartik): The internationally acclaimed band “Fakira” will perform at 7 PM. The performance will be enhanced by truss lighting and a Line Array sound system.

Special Attractions

Throughout the evenings of Shashthi, Saptami, and Kali Puja, visitors will be treated to a spectacular Light and Sound Show in the newly built park. Additionally, the Chowdhury family makes it a point to honor distinguished personalities daily during the Durga Puja afternoons.