West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has issued a wide-ranging set of directions for this year's Durga Puja, addressing the administration and puja committees together on issues ranging from the correct timing of the inauguration to DJ music, idol immersion, road closures and government funding. He said it would not be appropriate to inaugurate Durga Puja celebrations before Matri Paksha begins, setting the tone for the rest of his announcements.
DJs barred from both puja pandals and immersion processions
The Chief Minister made clear that DJ music will not be allowed anywhere during this year's Durga Puja. This means DJ speakers will not be permitted inside puja pandals, at community gatherings, or in the immersion processions that mark the end of the festivities. He asked every puja committee across the state to comply with the administration's rules without exception.
Row over 11-armed idol in an ad, CM apologises
Adhikari also expressed strong displeasure after an advertisement showed the Durga idol with 11 hands instead of the customary number. He warned the advertising agency responsible and personally apologised to the public. "As Chief Minister of the state, I apologise," he said. He added that the incorrect ad had been published that very morning, that the agency behind it had already been warned, and that the government would be more careful about such matters going forward. He noted that he wanted to raise this issue at the very outset of his remarks, before moving on to the rest of the puja guidelines.
No puja carnival this year
The Chief Minister announced that there will be no puja carnival this year. Instead, puja celebrations will follow whatever rules and arrangements the administration finalises, with the annual carnival taken off this year's calendar entirely.
Special Eden Gardens event on Mahalaya, PM Modi invited
This year, a special puja program will be held at Kolkata's Eden Gardens on Mahalaya, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi said to be invited to attend. The event, spread across roughly four hours, is expected to draw large crowds to the stadium and will be built around a drone show as its centrepiece attraction, alongside other performances.
No puja events allowed on 13 major roads
The Chief Minister made clear that puja events cannot be organised by blocking off 13 major roads in the city, including Red Road and Strand Road. He said puja celebrations should be organised in a way that does not disrupt the city's normal traffic flow, meaning committees will need to plan pandals and processions away from these routes.
Free electricity, Rs 1 lakh grant for committees that need it
In a relief measure for puja committees, the Chief Minister announced that electricity will be entirely free this year, a move expected to significantly ease organisers' financial burden. Officials expect the free-power measure alone to meaningfully cut costs for committees running large lighting and sound displays through the festival. He also appealed to big-budget puja committees to skip the government grant so that the money reaches committees that genuinely need it. Committees that require financial help will receive a grant of Rs 1 lakh from the government. He clarified that taking this grant is entirely optional, organisers who need it can apply at their local police station to receive the amount.
Liquor shops shut on Durga Ashtami, paid leave for staff
According to the Chief Minister, all liquor shops across the state will remain closed on Durga Ashtami, with the administration making the necessary arrangements. Government employees have also been given some relief, staff involved in emergency services will get two days of paid leave after the puja concludes, giving them time to spend the festival with their families once their duties wind down.
