Khuti Puja rituals mark start of Durga Puja preparations in Gurugram

Over 100 pandals planned; Sector 108 event saw dhaak, ulu dhwani, and unity among Dwarka Expressway residents celebrating together.

Published on: Sep 23, 2025, 09:43:14 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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The onset of Navratri brought the start of Durga Puja preparations in the city on Saturday, with Khuti Puja ceremonies held across residential societies and community centres.

Residents from multiple housing projects gathered at Sector 108, with cultural events, food festivals, and traditional rituals planned for October. (HT Photo)

More than 100 pandals are being set up ahead of the festival, officials and residents said.

At Babupur Community Centre in Sector 108, residents from several societies along the Dwarka Expressway gathered for Khuti Puja, a Bengali ritual involving the ceremonial erection and worship of a bamboo pole to mark the beginning of pandal construction. The event included prayers, dhaak drumming, and ulu dhwani, residents of the area said.

“The excitement is in the air—Durga Puja is just around the corner. For us Bengalis, no matter where we are, this is the time when our hearts brim with joy,” said Debasree Das Chanda, a resident of Experion Heartsong, Sector 108.

Das Chanda added she is part of the Agomoni programme, a group singing event dedicated to welcoming the Goddess.

Dina Sarkar Kundu, also from Experion Heartsong, said the Puja has become a symbol of unity for the Dwarka Expressway community.

“Since 2022, we have celebrated Durga Puja under the banner of Srishti Sangha. It is filled with cultural programs, delicious food, and the warmth of togetherness. The enthusiasm of our members ensures that the celebration grows stronger every year,” Kundu said.

Residents from Raheja Vedanta, Shobha City, ATS Kokoon, Brisk Lumbini, Experion Windchants, and Chintels participated in the Sector 108 event. Members dressed in yellow attire and posed with Kashful flowers, regarded as a traditional symbol of Durga’s arrival. Organisers said that events planned include Sindur Khela, Dhunuchi Naach, a food festival, and cultural performances.

Navratri celebrations were also reported at other locations. Central Park Resorts and Central Park Flower Valley hosted food festivals, while M3M India announced a three-day Dandiya Raas Utsav at 65th Avenue from September 26 to 28, featuring DJ Suketu, Shibani Kashyap, DJ GAGS, flea markets, food stalls, and family entertainment zones.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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