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How UNESCO’s Heritage Tag Transformed Kolkata’s Durga Puja
Durga Puja is a large festival celebrated with art, religion, music and community events.
In 2018, researchers prepared an application asking UNESCO to recognise the festival.
They explained how people, artists, organisers and businesses work together to create it.
In December 2021, UNESCO added “Durga Puja in Kolkata” to its intangible heritage list.
This means the festival received international recognition, even though it is not a physical building or object.
Artists say the recognition has brought more attention, work and opportunities.
Tourism businesses say more visitors now want to experience the festival.
The festival also provides seasonal work for many rural workers and artisans.
Some organisers say its economic benefits are difficult to measure because much of the sector is informal.
They also say Kolkata must improve transport and other facilities as visitor numbers grow.
Tapati Guha-Thakurta prepared India’s UNESCO application for Durga Puja in 2018, arguing that Kolkata’s community festival met the heritage criteria.
“Durga Puja in Kolkata” was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2021.
The inscription has been credited with raising the festival’s international profile and creating opportunities for artists, students, sponsors and tourism businesses.
Participants describe Durga Puja as a major source of seasonal employment for rural workers and a large but largely unorganised economic sector.
Tourism operators report growing demand for curated festival experiences, while organisers say Kolkata needs better infrastructure and traffic management for visitors.
- Who
- The Government of India, researchers led by Tapati Guha-Thakurta, artists, puja organisers, community stakeholders and UNESCO were involved.
- What
- Durga Puja in Kolkata was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- Where
- The recognised tradition is rooted in Kolkata, also called Calcutta, in West Bengal, India.
- When
- The application was prepared in 2018, research and consultations continued through 2019, and the inscription took place in December 2021.
- Why
- The application presented Durga Puja as a public performance combining religion, art and community participation, with cultural and economic significance.
Recognition and Expansion
Limits and Challenges
Economic impact
Recognition and Expansion
Supporters say the UNESCO tag has boosted tourism, sponsorship, artist opportunities and broader economic activity, with substantial benefits for Bengal.
Limits and Challenges
Critics and participants note that the sector is largely unorganised, lacks complete official spending records and is difficult to measure precisely; reported estimates range from more than ₹32,000 crore to nearly ₹50,000 crore.
Artistic development
Recognition and Expansion
Artists and organisers say the festival has evolved into a major public art event, giving even smaller pujas greater visibility and encouraging year-round creative work.
Limits and Challenges
Some observers have criticised pandals for taking unlimited creative license or using controversial themes, including depictions of Osama bin Laden and a fatal train accident.
Tourism growth
Recognition and Expansion
Tour operators and organisers expect international promotion and curated experiences to attract more visitors and expand Durga Puja’s global reach.
Limits and Challenges
Organisers warn that Kolkata must improve infrastructure, traffic management and visitor facilities to handle larger crowds.
Key facts
- UNESCO inscription
- “Durga Puja in Kolkata” was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2021.
- Application preparation
- Tapati Guha-Thakurta and a research team prepared the dossier after being approached by India’s Ministry of Culture in 2018.
- Application requirement
- The dossier ran to 30 pages and required endorsements from artists, idol makers, puja committees, sponsors, media representatives and officials.
- Reported economic value
- A 2021 study estimated annual Durga Puja-related profits at more than ₹32,000 crore; one contributor later estimated the figure at nearly ₹50,000 crore.
- Employment
- Artist Purnendu Dey described Durga Puja as providing rural workers with more than 100 days of work.
- International promotion
- The festival has been presented in overseas museums and was celebrated for two days at New York’s Times Square, according to contributors.
- Tourism growth
- One tour operator reported serving 240 visitors in 2024 and 600 in 2025 through customised Durga Puja experiences.
Sources
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