Archive · 7 Sep 2026
West Bengal Announces Rs 1 Lakh Durga Puja Grant
The West Bengal government will give some Durga Puja committees Rs 1 lakh to help pay for celebrations.
This is less money than committees received last year.
Groups that can pay for their own celebrations are being asked not to take the grant.
Electricity will be free for all puja committees, and fire-safety clearance fees will be waived.
Durga Puja inaugurations cannot happen before Mahalaya.
The government will hold a special programme at Eden Gardens on Mahalaya, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend.
DJs will be banned during the festival, and liquor shops and bars will close on Ashtami.
Idols must be immersed by October 24.
The government will also continue awards for well-organised and creative pujas.
The West Bengal government announced a Rs 1 lakh Durga Puja grant for committees needing financial assistance.
The grant is Rs 10,000 lower than last year's Rs 1.10 lakh assistance under the previous government.
Puja committees will receive free electricity and a 100 per cent waiver on fire-safety clearance fees.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari urged large-budget committees to voluntarily decline the grant.
The government banned DJs, cancelled the Durga Puja carnival, and set October 24 as the idol-immersion deadline.
- Who
- The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, and Durga Puja committees.
- What
- The government announced a Rs 1 lakh grant, free electricity, waived fire-clearance fees, and new festival rules.
- When
- The announcement was made on Monday, September 7; idol immersion must be completed by October 24.
- Where
- The announcement was made at Milan Mela ground in Kolkata and applies across West Bengal.
- Why
- The grant is intended for committees needing financial assistance, while the other measures organise and regulate Durga Puja celebrations.
Committees Needing Aid
Committees Able to Self-Fund
Whether to accept the grant
Committees Needing Aid
Committees that cannot organise Durga Puja without financial help can apply locally for the Rs 1 lakh grant.
Committees Able to Self-Fund
Committees capable of funding their celebrations themselves are being asked to voluntarily forgo government assistance.
Approach to government support
Committees Needing Aid
Supporters of the grant can view it as necessary assistance for committees with limited resources.
Committees Able to Self-Fund
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari argued that large-budget committees should not depend on state funding.
- Grant amount
- Rs 1 lakh per eligible Durga Puja committee
- Previous grant
- Rs 1.10 lakh last year
- Electricity charges
- Completely waived for puja committees across West Bengal
- Fire-safety fees
- Fully waived for obtaining fire-safety clearances
- Immersion deadline
- October 24, before Kojagari Lakshmi Puja on October 25
- Festival restrictions
- No DJs, no inaugurations before Mahalaya, and no processions blocking national highways
- Cancelled event
- The government-organised Durga Puja carnival will not be held this year