Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Bengal Women Save Scheme Payments for First Village Durga Puja
Women in Simlagarh have wanted to celebrate Durga Puja in their village for years.
Their group already organises Kali Puja each year.
After they began receiving money through the Annapurna Bhandar scheme in June, they decided to save it for Durga Puja.
They say they did not use the money for household expenses.
They also say they did not take government grants or donations for the festival.
The women recently held a ceremony called khuti puja to begin preparations.
It will be the first Durga Puja in their village.
The group says it is a dream they have achieved together.
Women in Simlagarh village, Hooghly district, are organising their first Durga Puja.
Members of the Matrishakti Committee saved their Annapurna Bhandar payments to fund the festival.
The women began receiving the payments in June and chose to set aside the full amount.
Organisers said they sought neither government grants nor donations to pay for the puja.
The committee recently held khuti puja, marking the start of preparations.
- Who
- Members of the Matrishakti Committee, a group of women in Simlagarh.
- What
- They are funding and organising their village's first Durga Puja with savings from Annapurna Bhandar payments.
- When
- Preparations have begun; the women said they started receiving the payments in June. The year is not specified.
- Where
- Simlagarh village, Pandua, in Hooghly district, West Bengal.
- Why
- They wanted to hold Durga Puja in their village and saved the payments to cover the costs.
- Organising group
- Matrishakti Committee
- Village
- Simlagarh, in Pandua, Hooghly district
- Festival
- The village's first Durga Puja
- Funding
- Savings from Annapurna Bhandar scheme payments
- Payments began
- June; the article does not specify the year
- Other funding
- Organisers said they received no government grant and collected no donations
- Preparatory ceremony
- The women recently performed khuti puja