Politics of festivities

Festivals were never meant to be about politics. But politics is unpredictable too, with evolving times which makes way for West Bengal’s grand Durga Puja festival. The Communists did not believe in idol worship and 34 years under their rule was never about making way into puja pandal committees. Nor was it about getting into nitty gritties of who eats what. Then came 15 years of Trinamool Congress (TMC), which made its way into puja committees and over the years, leaders built their clout with big budget and magnum opus pandal themes.

Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government gave ₹1.10 lakh each to 45,000 puja pandals in the state in 2025 costing the state exchequer ₹495 crore. This was a 30% increase from ₹85,000 from 2024. The grants began in 2018 with ₹10,000 given to 28,000 pandals in the state of which around 3,000 were in Kolkata, costing the state exchequer ₹28 crore back then.

This year, there was little cheer as announcements came in by CM Suvendu Adhikari appealing to big ticket pandals to avoid taking government funding. However, the government continues to extend the offer to smaller puja pandal committees. The government also approved 12,400 more pandals in the state taking the number from 45,000 to 57,000 with a ₹1 lakh grant to the new puja committees.

During the erstwhile regime, puja pandals were inaugurated well in advance but this was barred this year by Adhikari. The CM stated that sanatani customs should be followed and only after Devi Paksha or fortnight of the goddess (which starts after Mahalaya) will pandals be inaugurated. The state government has banned the sale of alcohol commercially on the auspicious day of Astami.

While there is no open diktat on banning non-vegetarian food, there were appeals made to the public by the RSS ideology groups to avoid eating non-vegetarian food near puja pandals. Posters by restaurants were also torn down in various parts of Kolkata with images of non-vegetarian items alongside the image of Goddess Durga. In Siliguri, posters asking people to buy meat from Hindu owned shops were put up.

Book stalls by Left Front supporters made way for RSS book stalls across the state with a book stall selling books of Lenin and Karl Marx set on fire in Bijpur area of North 24 Parganas district. There were incidents of vandalism of CPI(M) book stalls in other parts of the district as well. CPI(M) book stalls have been denied in most pandals, which is a shift from the TMC regime too.

There is no carnival this year after Dasami or the 10th day of Durga Puja where award winning and prominent Durga Puja pandals were paraded on Red Road for people to witness. Instead, the BJP government held a mega show at Eden Gardens on Mahalaya with 3,000-drone light display, making giant formations in the sky, including the face of Goddess Durga. There were also dhakis or traditional drum beaters, a 3D projection mapping, live cultural performances and fireworks. 

Red Road and some flyovers like Chingrighata and Gariahat were painted colourfully, drawing the ire of Mamata’s TMC faction. Was it from the government coffers? Why were safety mechanisms not adhered to? Motorcycles were skidding amidst light drizzle due to slippery painted roads and bright colours making it difficult for motorists to see. The government insisted skid proof paint was used and went on to remove the top coat of paint and add speed breakers after the incident.

There is reason to cheer, there is reason to grumble. Nonetheless, Bengalis want to make the most of their biggest festival of the year. The politics of Durga Puja does not overshadow the bright lights and thematic pandals that bring alive their dreams and strength they seek from their beloved Goddess Durga.