2 weeks ago
Cloud over Deshapriya Park's 89th Durga Puja as committees clash
In Kolkata, India, people get ready for a huge festival called Durga Puja.
Every year, they build a big temporary building called a pandal, and it is decorated beautifully.
This year, the people who have organized the festival for many years say that a group of strangers came at night and broke the pandal while it was being built.
They say about 40 to 50 people did this on August 9, and they asked the police to find out who did it.
But another group says something different — they say the people who live nearby took the bamboo structure down because they wanted new leaders to run the festival.
Some residents think the old leaders did not explain where the festival money went, so they wanted a change.
Now the building work has stopped, and nobody knows for sure if the festival can happen this year.
The two groups disagree about what happened and who should be in charge.
The police are looking into it, and people in Kolkata are hoping the festival will still go ahead.
The Ballygunge Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity alleges 40-50 'outsiders' stormed Deshapriya Park on the night of August 9 and damaged the under-construction Durga Puja pandal.
The committee, which has organized the Puja since 1938, filed a police complaint on August 11 calling the incident 'a planned conspiracy' and demanding CCTV review.
A new, unregistered committee claims residents dismantled the bamboo structure because the old committee's 15-year tenure ended without a transparent handover of accounts.
Construction has been halted and the park shut, leaving the future of the 89th Durga Puja and its planned 70-ft pandal uncertain.
The ground was consecrated in a Khunti Puja on June 28 attended by former tennis player Leander Paes and BJP leader Locket Chatterjee.
- Who
- The Ballygunge Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity, the old organizing committee, and a new, unregistered committee of residents.
- What
- Alleged vandalism of the under-construction Durga Puja pandal amid a dispute over the organizing committee, halting construction.
- Where
- Deshapriya Park, south Kolkata.
- When
- Night of August 9, between 8pm and 9:30pm; a police complaint was filed on August 11.
- Why
- Because of a dispute over control of the committee — the old committee accuses outsiders of attacking, while the new committee says residents stopped construction over demands for transparency and a handover.
Old committee's account
New committee's account
Nature of the incident
Old committee's account
A group of 40-50 outsiders stormed the park and damaged the under-construction pandal in 'a planned conspiracy,' calling it 'a grave, unmitigated abuse of the Hindu faith.'
New committee's account
No outsiders were involved; local residents dismantled the bamboo structure themselves to halt work until elections for a new committee could be held.
Cause of the dispute
Old committee's account
The attack came days after the Khunti Puja consecrated the ground; the committee does not know the attackers and wants CCTV footage examined.
New committee's account
The old committee's 15-year tenure ended in 2025 without an annual general meeting or transparent handover of accounts and contracts, making the demand for a new committee 'an authentic, long-overdue stand by residents.'
Future of the Puja
Old committee's account
Members say they are not allowed to continue work and feel helpless, and have appealed to the general public.
New committee's account
If a new committee is formed with both old and new members, the Puja can still happen, 'maybe not as grand as we planned.'
Key facts
- Event
- 89th Durga Puja at Deshapriya Park
- Organizing committee
- Ballygunge Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity (since 1938)
- Incident
- Alleged vandalism of under-construction pandal
- Incident time
- August 9, between 8pm and 9:30pm
- Police complaint filed
- August 11, Rabindra Sarobar Police Station
- Khunti Puja ceremony
- June 28, attended by Leander Paes and Locket Chatterjee
- Planned pandal height
- 70 feet
- Notable past installation
- World's tallest Durga idol (2015)
Quotes
Avishek De Biswas
Media coordinator of Ballygunge Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity
“We are not allowed to continue with the work. We are really helpless looking at the situation, and that is why we have called out to the general public.”
telegraphindia.com
“If we can form a new committee, with both old and new members, we can still do the Puja. Maybe not as grand as we planned.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Related news
Salt Lake Durga Pujas Begin Amid Themes and Dispute
BJP Worker Dies After Fatal Bengal Clash Over Puja Committee
Jadavpur University Files Complaints, Forms Panel Over Campus Violence
Bengal govt assures all possible support for Durga Puja organisers
BJP Workers Clash Over Feast, One Person Injured
