Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Kolkata Durga Puja Committees Back Adhikari’s Grant Waiver Appeal
West Bengal offered money to community groups organizing Durga Puja celebrations.
Each committee was offered Rs 1,00,000 this year.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari asked wealthy committees not to take the money.
He said the money could help smaller puja groups more.
Several large committees agreed with this idea.
Santosh Mitra Square had already refused government support in the past.
Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha said it would give its grant to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Some other Kolkata committees also said they would not accept the money.
West Bengal announced a Rs 1,00,000 grant for each community Durga Puja committee this year.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari urged financially capable, large-budget committees to voluntarily reject the grant.
Santosh Mitra Square was the first committee mentioned as supporting the appeal.
Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha said it would donate the grant to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Tala Pratyay Club, Phulbagan Sarbojanin and Santoshpur Lake Pally Club also declined the grant.
- Who
- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and several large-budget Kolkata Durga Puja committees, including Santosh Mitra Square, Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha, Tala Pratyay Club, Phulbagan Sarbojanin and Santoshpur Lake Pally Club.
- What
- Large-budget committees agreed to voluntarily decline a Rs 1,00,000 state grant offered to community Durga Puja committees.
- When
- The appeal and grant announcement were made on Monday for this year’s Durga Puja.
- Where
- Kolkata, West Bengal.
- Why
- The Chief Minister said committees able to fund their celebrations should leave the assistance for smaller and more deserving puja committees.
- State grant
- Rs 1,00,000 for each community Durga Puja committee this year
- Appeal
- Large-budget committees capable of operating without aid were asked to decline the grant
- First committee cited
- Santosh Mitra Square Committee in Central Kolkata
- Relief donation
- Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha said it would donate the money to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund
- Other committees declining
- Tala Pratyay Club, Phulbagan Sarbojanin and Santoshpur Lake Pally Club
- Electricity benefit
- A 100 per cent electricity-bill discount for puja committees was described as welcome