During Durga Puja, which highlights Kolkata’s vibrant cultural heritage, SPK Jain Futuristic Academy extended its experiential learning beyond the classroom with a Bonedi Bari Heritage Walk at Ramgopal Saha’s House. This initiative allowed students to explore historic family residences in the city and gain insight into the traditions, rituals, and cultural practices tied to Kolkata’s Durga Puja celebrations.

The heritage walk gave students direct experience with the history and legacy of Ramgopal Saha’s House, helping them grasp how different families have maintained unique Puja traditions and cultural practices across generations. The experience enabled students to observe the architectural features of the heritage home and also provided them with insights into the rituals, traditions, and social history connected with Bonedi Bari Puja.

The initiative also prompted students to move beyond the celebrations and gain insight into the stories, customs, and community traditions that have shaped Kolkata’s Durga Puja heritage. By observing and engaging directly, students investigated how traditional celebrations have changed across generations while preserving their cultural importance.

The Bonedi Bari Heritage Walk embodied SPK Jain Futuristic Academy’s focus on experiential and contextual learning, fostering student engagement through observation and interaction with real-world settings. By visiting Ramgopal Saha’s House and experiencing its Durga Puja traditions, students linked their classroom lessons to the city’s history, culture, architecture, and ongoing customs.

The heritage walk at Ramgopal Saha’s House helped students gain a deeper appreciation of Kolkata’s Bonedi Bari culture and the customs that remain central to the city’s Durga Puja celebrations. The initiative further strengthened the Academy’s dedication to developing impactful learning experiences that link students with their city’s cultural heritage and history.

Priyanka Dutta