Kolkata: Durga Puja in West Bengal will see quite a few changes this time as the state’s biggest festival is set to be held for the first time under BJP rule.
At a coordination meeting with puja committees on Monday, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari declared a total ban on liquor sale in shops and bars in the state on the auspicious Maha Ashtami.
Suvendu also announced a complete ban on DJ music in Durga Puja pandals and processions, barred puja committees from inaugurating pandals before Mahalaya to preserve the traditional character of Durga Puja.
In another significant decision, the Bengal CM said the Durga Puja Carnival, which the previous government used to organise for the last few years on a grand scale at the end of the festival, will be discontinued.
Festival-opening mega programme at Eden Gardens
The chief minister announced that the state government will host a mega cultural event at the Eden Gardens on Mahalaya to mark the beginning of the festival through three drone shows. There will also be cultural events, fireworks display and road shows.
Community Durga Puja committees will be eligible for a grant of Rs 1 lakh, but the CM appealed to big-budget puja committees not to avail of it.
Former CM Mamata Banerjee had been giving grants to all Durga Puja committees since 2018. Last year, every puja committee was given Rs 1.10 lakh.
Suvendu also announced waiver of electricity bills as well as fees for obtaining licence from the state fire department.
