12,400 new Durga Pujas in Bengal this year: CM

Kolkata: Bengal would see 12,400 new Durga Pujas this year, taking the total number from 45,000 in 2025 to 57,400 this time, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari announced at the inauguration of the Durga Puja festival at Eden Gardens on Saturday evening. He said the state approved the new applicants and made arrangements to provide them with grant.“In 2025, 45,000 Durga Pujas were granted permission. This year, the nationalist, double-engine govt, which seeks to honour our culture, heritage and Sanatan traditions, has granted approval to 12,400 new applicants to hold puja. Arrangements have been made to provide them with the grants,” Adhikari said.Taking a swipe at the previous dispensation, the CM said people were earlier forced to approach the high court to organise Durga Puja. “That was a matter of grief and sorrow. This time, to my knowledge, no one had to approach the high court,” he said.The chief minister sought to position the govt’s approach as one that combined the cultural heritage of Durga Puja with its religious significance and scriptural traditions. He said the state cabinet decided that celebrations should not begin in Pitri Paksha and that the festival inauguration would instead take place during Devi Paksha.Adhikari announced that puja committees willing to accept the govt financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh would start receiving the money from Sunday. He added the govt left it to organisers of big-budget pujas to decide whether to accept the money or not, adding there would be no adverse feelings towards those declining it. “Over 200 puja committees, especially in Kolkata, said they would not take the grant,” he said. Seeking to add an international character to the festival, Adhikari said the state would work to promote Durga Puja’s heritage, tradition and scripturally guided practices globally. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative for Durga Puja receiving Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage recognition. He also acknowledged Union home minister Amit Shah’s participation in the inauguration programme at Victoria Memorial in 2023.Adhikari urged puja committees to complete idol immersion by Oct 24, saying arrangements had been made at the ghats. “The state information and cultural affairs department will recognise puja committees across categories, including best idol, best puja, environmental awareness sanctity and purity,” he added.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in KolkataStay updated with the latest Kolkata news. Download the TOI App.