Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced permission for 12,400 new Durga Puja celebrations this year, with all the newly approved pujas receiving financial assistance from the state government. The government will begin distributing grants of ₹1 lakh to Durga Puja committees from Sunday, he said at a special programme marking the beginning of Debipaksha at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The announcement highlights the state government’s support for one of Bengal’s biggest cultural and community celebrations. According to Adhikari, around 45,000 Durga Pujas were held across West Bengal in 2025, while this year has seen 12,400 additional celebrations.
The chief minister also said that more than 200 Durga Puja committees had declined the grant and requested the government to extend financial assistance to committees in rural Bengal and those managed by women.
₹1 Lakh Grant for Durga Puja Committees
The West Bengal government is providing a grant of ₹1 lakh to each Durga Puja committee across the state. Adhikari announced that the disbursement process would begin on Sunday, although the report did not specify a completion date for payments to all committees.
The financial assistance is intended to support the organisation of Durga Puja celebrations, which involve local committees, volunteers, artisans and community groups. Such celebrations require arrangements for decorations, lighting, cultural activities and public participation.
The decision by more than 200 committees to refuse the grant has also brought attention to demands for wider distribution of public assistance. These committees reportedly asked the government to consider rural organisers and women-led groups.
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12,400 New Durga Pujas Receive Permission
Speaking at Eden Gardens, Adhikari said the state had granted permission for 12,400 new Durga Puja celebrations this year. He contrasted the current situation with the previous government’s tenure, claiming that organisers earlier had to approach the Calcutta High Court to obtain the required permissions.
According to the chief minister, there was no comparable case this year. He described the increase in the number of celebrations as a significant development for the state.
The expansion reflects the scale of community participation in Durga Puja across West Bengal. Local committees organise celebrations in neighbourhoods and towns, making the festival an important part of the state’s cultural and social life.
Government Emphasises Traditional Calendar for Durga Puja
Adhikari said the Cabinet had decided that Durga Puja celebrations would not begin during Pitripaksha. Accordingly, the state held the inauguration during Debipaksha, following the traditional Hindu astrological calendar.
Pitripaksha is a fortnight dedicated to honouring ancestors through rituals such as tarpan and shraddha. Debipaksha marks the auspicious period associated with Goddess Durga and the lead-up to Durga Puja. In Bengal, Debipaksha begins after Mahalaya, which marks the conclusion of Pitripaksha.
The chief minister said the government wanted this year’s celebrations to reflect both the cultural importance of Durga Puja and its customary religious traditions.
Cultural Programmes Across Bengal
The state government has also planned special cultural programmes over four days leading up to Sasthi. These programmes will take place in Durgapur, Bishnupur, Siliguri, Cooch Behar, Malda, Berhampore and Digha.
The events are expected to highlight Bengal’s cultural traditions and bring celebrations to different parts of the state, beyond Kolkata. The programme at Eden Gardens marked the formal beginning of the state’s Debipaksha celebrations.
Earlier, Adhikari led a rally from Red Road to Eden Gardens alongside state Cabinet ministers, film personalities and members of the sporting fraternity.
Leaders and Cultural Figures Attend the Event
The special programme was attended by Governor R. N. Ravi, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, BJP MP and state president Samik Bhattacharya, and actor Mithun Chakraborty.
Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, who was visiting Kolkata and planned to stay in the city for a few days, was also present. She was seen sharing the dais with the chief minister, the governor and other dignitaries.
Support for Bengal’s Cultural Celebrations
The approval of 12,400 new Durga Pujas and the ₹1 lakh grants underline the scale of public and community participation in the festival. The assistance is expected to help committees organise their celebrations, while the requests made by some groups have highlighted the importance of reaching rural and women-led organisers.
With cultural programmes planned across several locations, the state is preparing to mark Debipaksha and Durga Puja through a combination of public events, community celebrations and traditional observances.
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