West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that the annual Durga Puja carnival will not be held this year, as the state prepares for its first festival season under the BJP government.
Adhikari said the government would instead focus on large-scale cultural programmes and celebrations rooted in Bengali traditions and culture. A major event will be organised at Eden Gardens by the Tourism and Information and Cultural Affairs departments, featuring a four-hour drone and fireworks show.
Cultural programmes will also be held across six cities, while a special event is planned at Digha after Mahalaya. Four ghats will be decorated as part of the celebrations.
Adhikari also said Puja organisers should not face unnecessary hurdles or need to approach courts for permission. He stressed that roads and national highways must not be blocked for celebrations, saying, “National highways cannot be blocked. Puja cannot be organised by blocking roads.”
The Durga Puja carnival was introduced by the Mamata Banerjee government in 2017 and later became an annual Kolkata event. The BJP government has said its approach will emphasise Bengali culture, traditional rituals and public convenience during the festival.
