BJP government approved 12,400 additional Durga Pujas in Bengal, taking the total to 57,500 and announcing Rs 1 lakh grants for each committee. The move marks a sharp contrast with the previous TMC regime under the Mamata Banerjee government, which imposed several restrictions when it came to celebration of Durga Puja, merely to appease people from particular community
KOLKATA: In a major political and cultural shift in West Bengal, the BJP government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has approved approximately 12,400 additional community Durga Pujas this year, taking the total to around 57,500 in 2026. The move marks a sharp contrast with the previous TMC regime under Mamata Banerjee, which faced criticism over alleged bureaucratic hurdles and controversies surrounding Durga Puja celebrations.
By expanding approvals and extending financial assistance, the Adhikari government is projecting a clear message: Hindu traditions deserve respect, Durga Puja organisers should not have to battle the administration to celebrate, and Bengal’s cultural identity must not be held hostage to political calculations.
The expansion marks a significant rise from the approximately 45,000 community Durga Pujas organised in 2025. According to Adhikari, all the newly approved committees have received permission to organise their celebrations, while the government has announced financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh for each Durga Puja committee.
The scale of the celebrations is also expected to put considerable pressure on the state’s power infrastructure, with the power department estimating that peak electricity demand could exceed 14,000 MW on October 13, the third day of the festival. The surge is attributed to the extensive illumination, decorative lighting and elaborate pandals being installed across the state.
‘No one should have to fight for permission to celebrate Durga Puja’
Taking a pointed swipe at the previous Mamata Banerjee government, Adhikari claimed that Puja organisers had earlier faced difficulties securing permission, with some having to approach the Calcutta High Court to pursue their requests.
“Compared to the number of Durga Pujas held in 2025, we have 12,400 more Pujas this year,” the Chief Minister said, asserting that the administrative hurdles reported in previous years had been addressed.
The government’s message is clear, organising a community Durga Puja should not become an exhausting bureaucratic battle. By approving thousands of additional committees, the administration is projecting a model in which local communities can celebrate the festival with greater institutional support.
The increase includes approximately 400 additional Pujas in Kolkata alone. A senior Home Ministry official also said that security arrangements had been stepped up across the state, with a substantial police deployment planned to manage crowds and maintain public order.
Hindu traditions back in focus
Beyond the increase in the number of Pujas, the Adhikari government has emphasised the importance of observing customary Hindu rituals and the traditional astrological almanac.
CM Adhikari said his government had decided against inaugurating Pujas during Pitripaksha, the fortnight traditionally dedicated to honouring ancestors, and had instead aligned the formal inauguration with Debipaksha, the auspicious period associated with Ma Durga.
Pitripaksha concludes with Mahalaya, which marks the transition towards Debipaksha and the lead-up to Durga Puja in Bengal. By emphasising this distinction, the Chief Minister has sought to position the government as attentive not only to the cultural spectacle of the festival but also to its customary religious significance.
Rs 1 lakh grants for every committee
The state government has announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for each Durga Puja committee, with disbursement which already began on October 11. The Chief Minister also disclosed that more than 200 committees had declined the assistance, requesting that the government instead extend support to rural Puja organisers and committees managed by women.
The decision by these committees highlights the competing priorities within Bengal’s extensive community festival network, where funding for large urban celebrations and smaller rural Pujas remains an important consideration.
For the government, the grant programme is intended to provide practical assistance to organisers facing the costs of constructing pandals, arranging lighting and managing the festival’s numerous logistical requirements.
Beyond Kolkata: Cultural Celebrations Across Bengal
The government has also announced special cultural programmes over the four days leading up to Sasthi in Durgapur, Bishnupur, Siliguri, Cooch Behar, Malda, Berhampore and Digha.
The initiative is intended to extend the festive atmosphere beyond the state capital, bringing cultural events to multiple regions of Bengal.
In Kolkata, where hundreds of community Pujas compete to attract visitors, the scale of the celebrations presents a substantial public-management challenge. Officials said security arrangements would remain a priority, particularly in crowded neighbourhoods and around prominent pandals.
The Jadavpur police division alone is expected to oversee approximately 685 Durga Pujas, according to the information provided by officials.
The addition of 12,400 Durga Pujas has placed the Adhikari government’s approach to public administration, electricity supply, crowd management and cultural policy under an unusually visible spotlight.
The expansion provides the government with an opportunity to demonstrate that faster permissions and financial assistance can go hand in hand with reliable infrastructure and effective security arrangements.
For thousands of organisers, the immediate priorities will be uninterrupted electricity, smooth crowd movement and the freedom to conduct celebrations without unnecessary administrative obstacles.
