Durga Puja remains one of the most significant religious and cultural observances in West Bengal, with Puja committees, pandals, Murti installations, devotional rituals and immersion processions forming an important part of the annual public life of the state. The festival has also acquired international cultural recognition, with Kolkata’s Durga Puja being inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In recent years, however, a series of incidents associated with Durga Puja in West Bengal have drawn attention to disputes involving Puja pandals, religious rituals, immersion processions, police action, protests and administrative restrictions. The incidents listed in this report range from allegations of vandalism and threats against Puja celebrations to arrests and detention of people at or around Puja venues, restrictions on processions, and controversies surrounding the manner in which Durga Puja has been represented or conducted.
The issue again came into focus in September 2026 amid a political controversy over CPI(M) book stalls around Durga Puja pandals. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari asked Puja committees not to permit CPI(M) stalls using the term ‘Sharodotsav’ instead of ‘Durga Puja’, while CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim described the move as a ‘fascist attack’ and that the government was attempting to incite religious passions. Reports noted that CPI(M) and organisations associated with the party have traditionally operated book stalls around Puja venues, selling party publications, Marxist literature and other books.
The 2024 Durga Puja period saw several of the incidents included in this compilation. In Kolkata’s Garden Reach area, a Puja committee that a group objected to music being played during Ashtami and Navami rituals, with the committee further alleging threats to disrupt the Puja and damage the Murti of Mata Durga. Police registered a case following the complaint. In Howrah’s Shyampur, unrest during Durga Puja reportedly led to vandalism and arson near Puja-related locations, followed by arrests and the imposition of prohibitory orders.
At the same time, several incidents concerned police or administrative action connected with protests at Puja venues. Kolkata Police stopped the ‘Abhaya Parikrama’ of junior doctors during the Puja period, while nine youths arrested for protesting outside a Puja marquee were later granted interim bail by the Calcutta High Court, which observed that their demonstration was not intended to spread hatred or harm religious sentiments. An on-duty doctor, Dr Tapabrata Roy, was also arrested during the government’s Durga Puja Carnival after wearing a badge supporting protesting junior doctors; the Calcutta High Court subsequently granted interim protection in proceedings arising from the case.
The incidents in this compilation extend beyond 2024 and include earlier controversies involving Durga Puja processions, immersion, Puja pandals and religious symbols. Taken together, they document a series of disputes and incidents over several years in which the conduct, security, representation or public administration of Durga Puja became a matter of controversy in West Bengal.
1. Muslim Mob Sets Durga Puja Pandal on Fire in Howrah, Several Other Pandals Damaged
Howrah, West Bengal | October 13, 2024: A group of Muslim miscreants began vandalising the area of Shyampur after returning from submitting a memorandum at the Shyampur police station. The group set fire to the Murti of Mata Durga installed at the Shyampur Bazar Byabsayi Samiti Puja pandal.
Several other Puja pandals were also damaged during the incident. Chairs were broken, decorations were destroyed and sound systems were set on fire. People were also subjected to stone-pelting at the immersion ghat.
Videos showing the breaking of the Murti and incidents of arson subsequently went viral on social media.
Police initially arrested 25-30 people and later arrested a total of 67 people, most of them from the community that had participated in the protest. A member of the Puja committee was also arrested in a separate case.
Section 144, now corresponding to Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), was imposed in the area. Additional police personnel and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed following the incident.
2. Muslim Group Enters Durga Puja Pandal and Disrupts Rituals in Kolkata
Kolkata, West Bengal | October 11, 2024: At around 1:13 PM, Ashtami-Navami rituals and devotional music, including Chandipath, were underway at a Durga Puja pandal organised by the New Bengal Sporting Club in the Garden Reach area when a group of around 50-60 Muslim youths entered the pandal.
According to the complaint filed by the club, the group objected to the loud music, stating that it was interfering with their Juma Namaz (Friday prayers).
The club that the group disrupted the Puja rituals, engaged in pushing and shoving, and used abusive and offensive language against women members and others present at the venue. They threatened that if the celebrations and music were not stopped immediately, they would break the Murti of Mata Durga and damage the Puja pandal.
The group also warned that Puja should not be conducted there in the future.
3. Hindu Devotees Attacked During Durga Puja Immersion Procession in Kolkata
Kolkata, West Bengal | October 9, 2024: A violent stone-pelting incident was reported during the immersion of Murtis of Mata Kali and Mata Lakshmi in the Park Circus and Narkeldanga areas of Kolkata. The incident took place around Rajabazar under the jurisdiction of Narkeldanga Police Station while immersion processions were being taken out.
According to Hindu devotees and Puja committees participating in the immersion processions, including Sasthitala Barowari, stones, glass bottles and bricks were suddenly thrown at the procession. Stones were also hurled from neighbouring buildings.
The stone-pelting created panic among those participating in the procession, with people running for safety and some processions turning back.
Police intervened and used a lathi charge and tear gas to bring the situation under control. The scheduled immersion procession was subsequently completed peacefully.
4. Kolkata Police Stops Junior Doctors’ ‘Abhaya Parikrama’ During Durga Puja
Kolkata, West Bengal | October 9, 2024: Kolkata Police stopped a ‘Abhaya Parikrama’ rally by junior doctors during Durga Puja at major Puja pandals in the city.
Kolkata Police detained 29 people, including women doctors, in connection with the rally.
5. Mamata Government Denies Permission for 112-Foot Murti of Mata Durga in Nadia
Nadia, West Bengal | October 11, 2024: A club in Ranaghat that had been organising Durga Puja for the past 50 years was denied permission to worship a 112-foot Murti of Mata Durga, citing law and order concerns.
According to the provided account, the Mamata Banerjee government did not grant approval for the proposed Murti. Citing a lack of cooperation from the administration, the club decided not to organise the Puja.
6. Nine Youths Arrested from Durga Puja Pandal Over Doctor Protest
Alipore, West Bengal | October 11, 2024: Alipore Police arrested nine youths from a Durga Puja pandal, citing their involvement in the RG Kar doctors’ protest, and produced them before the Chief Judicial Magistrate.
The youths were subsequently granted interim bail following a petition filed before the court.
While considering the police action, the court observed that the youths’ intention was not to spread hatred, hurt religious sentiments, or engage in anti-national activities.
7. On-Duty Doctor Arrested from Durga Puja Pandal for Wearing Badge Supporting Junior Doctors
Kolkata, West Bengal | October 15, 2024: Kolkata Police arrested Dr. Tapabrata Roy, a government doctor in West Bengal who was on duty and participating in the Durga Puja carnival, for wearing a badge in support of the protesting junior doctors in the RG Kar case.
The arrest took place at a Durga Puja pandal. Following protests by Hindus and other doctors against his arrest, Dr. Roy was released approximately four hours later.
8. West Bengal Police Arrest Journalist Over Report on Attack on Kali (Lakshmi) Puja
Rajabazar, West Bengal | October 15, 2024: West Bengal Police arrested journalist Ananyo Gupta for writing about an attack on Kali (Lakshmi) Puja on November 5, 2024. Ananyo Gupta runs ‘Madhyam’, a portal that reports on news from West Bengal.
9. NHRC Issues Notice to Kolkata Police Over Detention and Use of Force at Durga Puja Pandal
Tridhara, West Bengal | November 7, 2024: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to Kolkata Police seeking an Action Taken Report (ATR) regarding the detention of junior doctors and protesters and the use of force against them at the Tridhara Sammilani Durga Puja pandal.
The notice was issued following a complaint filed before the NHRC by the All India Students’ Union (AISU) on October 14, 2024.
10. National Commission for Women Member Writes to Governor Over Narkeldanga Violence
Narkeldanga, West Bengal | November 2, 2024: National Commission for Women member Archana Majumdar wrote to the Governor regarding the violence in Narkeldanga, stating that police officers also behaved improperly with her during the violence that followed the immersion of Kali and Lakshmi Puja Murtis.
Archana Majumdar stated that when she attempted to speak with police officers, they argued with her and subsequently resorted to a lathi charge against victims who were part of the immersion procession.
11. West Bengal Police Lathi-Charges Devotees During Mata Durga Murti Immersion in Birbhum
Birbhum, West Bengal | October 27, 2020: West Bengal Police carried out a lathi charge on members of a Puja committee and devotees who were taking out a procession for the immersion of Mata Durga’s Murti on the occasion of Vijayadashami in Birbhum district of West Bengal.
Videos that surfaced from the incident showed police personnel wielding lathis to disperse the crowd. In one video, a policeman was also seen grabbing a young man by his collar and dragging him along the road.
12. Controversy Over Durga Puja Pandals and Religious Symbols in West Bengal
Kolkata, West Bengal | October 20, 2021: Durga Puja is organised every year across West Bengal. It was that during some Puja celebrations, Azan was played in front of Murtis of Hindu deities. Azan refers to the Islamic call to prayer and describes Allah as the only God according to Islam.
The Barisha Club Durga Puja also faced allegations of presenting a misleading message in opposition to the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The club used a Murti of Mata Durga along with a replica of the Vigraha of the famous 12th-century Dhakeshwari Mandir in Dhaka. The Vigraha was brought to India during Partition.
The Puja pandal depicted a scene in which a Hindu woman and her child were shown confined along with the Murti of Mata Durga in an detention centre in India, with the suggestion that they could be sent back to Bangladesh.
13. 19 Convicted in Burdwan Blast Case, Including Four Bangladeshi Nationals
Burdwan/Kolkata, West Bengal | August 28, 2014: A Special NIA court convicted 19 people, including four Bangladeshi nationals, in the 2014 Burdwan (Khagragarh) blast case.
The case relates to October 2, 2014, when a Bangladeshi terrorist JMB module carried out a bomb blast at a Durga Puja pandal in Burdwan district. Several Murtis at the pandal were damaged in the blast.
According to the NIA, two people were killed in an accidental explosion that occurred while IEDs were being prepared. During the investigation, all the convicted persons confessed to their involvement in the case.
The 13 incidents compiled in this report span more than a decade and cover different forms of controversy surrounding Durga Puja in West Bengal. They include allegations of attacks and vandalism at Puja locations, disruption of rituals, violence during immersion processions, police action against devotees and protesters, administrative restrictions, and disputes over the representation and public conduct of the festival.
The incidents from 2024 in particular show how Durga Puja venues and related public events became locations for a number of separate confrontations and controversies. These included the disruption of rituals at a Garden Reach Puja pandal, unrest and vandalism in Howrah, stone-pelting during an immersion procession, arrests connected with protests near Puja venues, and the detention of an on-duty doctor during the government-organised Puja Carnival.
The compilation also records earlier incidents involving the immersion of Murtis, police action during Vijayadashami, controversies surrounding Puja pandal themes and religious symbols, and the Burdwan blast case involving a JMB module. The inclusion of these incidents demonstrates the range of circumstances in which Durga Puja has become connected with law-and-order disputes, political controversies, security concerns and public disagreements.
The September 2026 controversy over the use of the term ‘Sharodotsav’ by CPI(M) book stalls adds another dimension to the continuing public debate surrounding the identity, presentation and administration of Durga Puja in West Bengal. The dispute involved competing claims from the state government and CPI(M), with the government objecting to the terminology used by the stalls and the CPI(M) describing the move as politically motivated.
Across the incidents documented here, the central issue remains the conduct of Durga Puja and the space available for its rituals, processions, pandals, cultural expressions and associated public activities. The cases also underline how disputes taking place around the festival can quickly become matters involving police, courts, human-rights bodies, political parties and wider public debate.
