3 weeks ago
Bengal govt assures all possible support for Durga Puja organisers
Durga Puja is a big festival celebrated by the Bengali Hindu community every year in October.
The West Bengal government has promised to help the people who organise the festival.
The Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, met with a group of organisers and said the festival will definitely happen.
In the past, the government gave money to every approved puja committee.
Now the new government is thinking about giving money only to committees that really need it.
Small puja committees are worried because they do not know yet if they will get the money.
Some have already had to cut their spending or change their plans.
The government will make a final decision after talking to the finance department.
The festival is scheduled to be held in the second week of October.
The West Bengal government assured the Forum for Durgotsav of all possible assistance for Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata and across the state.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari told Forum officials, "Durga Puja will be held and the government will extend all possible support."
No decision has been announced on whether financial assistance would be limited to smaller puja committees with budgets below Rs 10 lakh.
The government is considering selective grants only for puja committees that genuinely require financial support, instead of grants for all police-approved committees.
The previous TMC-run government had provided Rs 1.10 lakh each to all police-approved puja committees until last year.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the Forum for Durgotsav, represented by senior member Partha Ghosh
- What
- The state government pledged all possible support for Durga Puja while considering selective financial assistance instead of universal grants
- Where
- Kolkata and across West Bengal
- When
- Announced on Monday, August 10; the festival is scheduled for the second week of October
- Why
- To ensure smooth Durga Puja celebrations, amid uncertainty over the continuation of financial assistance to puja committees
Puja Committees and Organisers
State Government
Financial Assistance Policy
Puja Committees and Organisers
Committees expected the previous practice of giving Rs 1.10 lakh to all police-approved puja committees to continue to help them finalise their budgets.
State Government
The government is considering identifying committees that genuinely require support and extending grants selectively instead of giving to all approved committees.
Timing of Grant Decision
Puja Committees and Organisers
Smaller committees need an early announcement, as uncertainty has forced some to cut expenses, alter planned themes, and change theme artists.
State Government
A final decision will be made only after consultations with the state finance department, with announcements expected at a meeting later this month.
Key facts
- Festival
- Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the Bengali Hindu community
- Festival schedule
- Second week of October
- Previous grant
- Rs 1.10 lakh per police-approved puja committee, provided until last year by the TMC-run government
- Grant history
- Introduced in 2018; raised to Rs 50,000 during COVID-19 pandemic; increased in phases to Rs 1.10 lakh in 2025
- Proposed change
- Selective grants for committees that genuinely require financial support
- Next step
- Final decision after discussions with the state finance department; meeting expected later this month
- Other issues discussed
- Permissions for pujas on major roads, electricity concessions, and reduction of civic taxes on hoardings and banners
Quotes
Suvendu Adhikari
West Bengal Chief Minister
““Nothing has been announced by the state government yet. We are waiting for a policy decision on the matter.””
theprint.in
““Durga Puja will be held, and the government will extend all possible support,””
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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