Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, declared today that her administration would increase the grant to the state’s Durga Puja organising committees from 50,000 to 60,000 rupees. Additionally, the concession on electricity costs incurred by puja committees will increase from the current 50% to 60%.
These declarations were made by her today at a meeting with representatives of the Durga Puja organising committee held at the city’s Netaji Indoor Stadium. The state government wants to promote Durga Puja as an international festival, so Ms. Banerjee has urged all puja organisers to take precautions to make sure that foreign visitors to the city have a trouble-free trip.
A large rally will be held in Kolkata on September 1 to express gratitude to UNESCO for listing Kolkata’s Durga Puja on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, according to the Bengal Chief Minister. The first festival in Asia to receive this recognition from UNESCO is Kolkata’s Durga Puja.
The mega rally, according to Ms. Banerjee, will begin at 2:00 p.m. on September 1 in North Kolkata at Jorasanko Thakurbari (the location of Rabindranath Tagore’s birth), travel down Rani Rasmani Avenue, and end at Dharmatala in the city’s centre.
All puja organisers were asked by the chief minister to take part in the massive procession. She also asked for permission to open it up to students in grades 11 and 12. About five kilometres will be covered by the procession. UNESCO representatives, according to Ms. Banerjee, will be guests at the procession.
“The puja this year will be unique. This time, we must plan very carefully. Many visitors from abroad are expected, “said Ms. Banerjee.
The Bengal Chief Minister announced that celebrations would start early, on September 1, with the mega procession, even though this year’s Durga Puja begins on September 30. “We’ll hold a rally, but it won’t be one for politics; it will be one to welcome the Goddess. It will resemble a fair. On September 1, in front of Consul-Generals, notable businesspeople, and other dignitaries, we will rally to thank the UNESCO “Added Ms. Banerjee.
Along with the mega procession, celebrations will take place not only in Kolkata, the state capital, but also in the surrounding districts.
Aside from the smaller pujas and those held in private homes, West Bengal has about 43,000 registered Durga Puja committees.
