Even Jagaddhatri puja has caught the khuti puja fever. Bidhannagar (Salt Lake) Kishore Sangha held a khuti puja recently to herald this weekend’s rituals.

“This is the 36th year of our puja although we’ve begun khuti puja in a big way only after the pandemic,” said joint secretary Soumya Sen of the puja that will take place next to BB-BC Park. “This is a chance for us to pray that the puja goes off smoothly. It is also an occasion for everyone, from senior citizens to busy office-goers, to catch up.”

The puja will be inaugurated on November 9 by Brahmachari Mural Bhai of Dakshineshwar Ramkrishna Sangha Adyapith, MLA and minister Sujit Bose, mayor Krishna Chakraborty and councillor Ratna Bhowmik.

In the evening, there will be a musical performance by Sujoy Bhoumik and Sumanaa Chakraborty. On November 10, the rituals will be followed by community lunch for about 1,200 people. Singer Nachiketa will take the stage in the evening, after a performance by Sristichhandam Creative Dance Group. On November 11, reality show singers Tathagata Sengupta and Sreejata Kar will perform. The show will be anchored by “Bhaktu Bhanu”, who mimics the late comedian Bhanu Bandopadhyay.

“This year we aren’t going for a theme pandal but the idol is by the renowned idol-maker Mintu Pal,” said Sen. “Durga puja was eclipsed by the RG Kar incident this year, and even though we are all still concerned about the situation, we saw neighbouring blocks like AC and BC successfully hold big concerts for Kali puja. So we are confident that people will come forward and take part in Jagaddhatri puja.”