News Analysis India

Tag: Durga Puja

  • Manipur violence to tribute to nude models, Bengal’s Durga Puja has it all

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: From highlighting the lives of nude models to praying for peace in violence-hit Manipur, each Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata is unique in itself.

    Puja organisers have left no stone unturned to come up with some eye-catching themes to attract people.

    Jagat Mukherjee Park Puja Committee in north Kolkata is paying tribute to nude models through its theme this year.

    It is also honouring 65-year-old Phulkumari Das, who has been a live nude model for art college students for over four decades.

    Through its theme, the puja committee is honouring her fraternity and trying to spread awareness among people that nude models should not be looked down upon and nude modelling be treated as just another profession.

    Known as ‘Phuldi’ in the artist community, Das has modelled for various stalwarts over the years.

    According to the organisers, she started modelling for artists at the Government College of Art and Craft from the age of 16.

    Later, she became an inspiration for many who decided to follow her path.

    Such models have an immense contribution in the making of an artist and Phuldi is one of them, pandal artist Parimal Pal said.

    “As doctors need corpses to study the internal organs of human beings, these models help students learn about figures and portraits,” Pal added.

    “Many people might have seen her in paintings, but not her in real life. Society looks down upon them. They come from poor families. Our effort is to honour them and their work,” Pal said.

    Another puja committee in north Kolkata is paying tribute to Sukumar Ray, one of the icons of Bengali children’s literature, known for his famous ‘Abol Tabol’.

    The organisers of Hatibagan Nabinpally Durga Puja are commemorating the writer’s 100th death anniversary and the centenary year of the publication of ‘Abol Tabol’ as the theme.

    Houses in the entire neighbourhood have been painted to represent the theme.

    Sukumar Ray is the father of film maestro Satyajit Ray.

    Dipto Ghosh, spokesperson of Nabin Pally Durga Puja Committee said, “This is the centenary year of the publication of ‘Abol Tabol’ (a collection of nonsense rhymes in Bengali) and also the death centenary of its creator. The reason behind choosing this theme is to honour both the creation and the creator.”

    Ray had died just nine days before ‘Abol Tabol’ was published for the first time in 1923.

    While the book was published on September 19, the writer died on September 10.

    On the other hand, a Durga Puja committee in Salt Lake has themed its pandal on Manipur violence.

    Disturbed by the ethnic strife in the northeastern state, the organisers of FC Block Sarbojanin Durga Puja have selected ‘Mother of Manipur’ as its theme.

    “We were moved by the ethnic violence that broke out in the state on May 3 this year, followed by incidents of atrocities on women.

    We decided to spread the message of peace through our theme,” said Nilanjan Brahma, secretary of FC Block Sarbojanin Durga Puja.

    “The pandal represents one community of Manipur, while the idol of Goddess Durga represents another.

    Both the communities have been represented in our puja pandal to spread the message of peace,” he said.

    Tucked away in a lane opposite to Amherst Street Post Office in central Kolkata is Sitaram Ghosh Street where members of Pallir Yubak Brinda Puja Committee are organising their Durga Puja.

    Through their theme ‘Uttar Sakkhi’, the organisers will capture the charm and touch of north Kolkata as it existed over 200 years ago.

    Old buildings, several of which are dilapidated, stand witness to the bygone era when a major part of the mode of transport was ‘palkis’ (palanquins).

    This locality was once known as ‘palki para’ (palanquin neighbourhood) as palanquins carrying people used to stop at the locality for a break.

    Pallir Yubak Brinda Puja Committee’s artist Abhijit Nandy said, “The story of old north Kolkata is being told through the marquee here.

    This particular locality off Amherst Street used to be known as ‘Palki Para’. We are trying to capture the nostalgia, love and emotions of old north Kolkata.”

    Another puja committee in central Kolkata has chosen to highlight marine life.

    Mechua Bajar Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samity’s theme is ‘Gobhirata’ (depth).

    The marquee is a replica of an old ship. One has to enter it to witness the depth of a seabed.

    According to artist Sanjay Pal, the underwater landscape is being showcased in the theme.

    “If you visit the pandal, you will have a feeling that you are standing several feet underwater in a sea,” he added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    KOLKATA: From highlighting the lives of nude models to praying for peace in violence-hit Manipur, each Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata is unique in itself.

    Puja organisers have left no stone unturned to come up with some eye-catching themes to attract people.

    Jagat Mukherjee Park Puja Committee in north Kolkata is paying tribute to nude models through its theme this year.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    It is also honouring 65-year-old Phulkumari Das, who has been a live nude model for art college students for over four decades.

    Through its theme, the puja committee is honouring her fraternity and trying to spread awareness among people that nude models should not be looked down upon and nude modelling be treated as just another profession.

    Known as ‘Phuldi’ in the artist community, Das has modelled for various stalwarts over the years.

    According to the organisers, she started modelling for artists at the Government College of Art and Craft from the age of 16.

    Later, she became an inspiration for many who decided to follow her path.

    Such models have an immense contribution in the making of an artist and Phuldi is one of them, pandal artist Parimal Pal said.

    “As doctors need corpses to study the internal organs of human beings, these models help students learn about figures and portraits,” Pal added.

    “Many people might have seen her in paintings, but not her in real life. Society looks down upon them. They come from poor families. Our effort is to honour them and their work,” Pal said.

    Another puja committee in north Kolkata is paying tribute to Sukumar Ray, one of the icons of Bengali children’s literature, known for his famous ‘Abol Tabol’.

    The organisers of Hatibagan Nabinpally Durga Puja are commemorating the writer’s 100th death anniversary and the centenary year of the publication of ‘Abol Tabol’ as the theme.

    Houses in the entire neighbourhood have been painted to represent the theme.

    Sukumar Ray is the father of film maestro Satyajit Ray.

    Dipto Ghosh, spokesperson of Nabin Pally Durga Puja Committee said, “This is the centenary year of the publication of ‘Abol Tabol’ (a collection of nonsense rhymes in Bengali) and also the death centenary of its creator. The reason behind choosing this theme is to honour both the creation and the creator.”

    Ray had died just nine days before ‘Abol Tabol’ was published for the first time in 1923.

    While the book was published on September 19, the writer died on September 10.

    On the other hand, a Durga Puja committee in Salt Lake has themed its pandal on Manipur violence.

    Disturbed by the ethnic strife in the northeastern state, the organisers of FC Block Sarbojanin Durga Puja have selected ‘Mother of Manipur’ as its theme.

    “We were moved by the ethnic violence that broke out in the state on May 3 this year, followed by incidents of atrocities on women.

    We decided to spread the message of peace through our theme,” said Nilanjan Brahma, secretary of FC Block Sarbojanin Durga Puja.

    “The pandal represents one community of Manipur, while the idol of Goddess Durga represents another.

    Both the communities have been represented in our puja pandal to spread the message of peace,” he said.

    Tucked away in a lane opposite to Amherst Street Post Office in central Kolkata is Sitaram Ghosh Street where members of Pallir Yubak Brinda Puja Committee are organising their Durga Puja.

    Through their theme ‘Uttar Sakkhi’, the organisers will capture the charm and touch of north Kolkata as it existed over 200 years ago.

    Old buildings, several of which are dilapidated, stand witness to the bygone era when a major part of the mode of transport was ‘palkis’ (palanquins).

    This locality was once known as ‘palki para’ (palanquin neighbourhood) as palanquins carrying people used to stop at the locality for a break.

    Pallir Yubak Brinda Puja Committee’s artist Abhijit Nandy said, “The story of old north Kolkata is being told through the marquee here.

    This particular locality off Amherst Street used to be known as ‘Palki Para’. We are trying to capture the nostalgia, love and emotions of old north Kolkata.”

    Another puja committee in central Kolkata has chosen to highlight marine life.

    Mechua Bajar Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samity’s theme is ‘Gobhirata’ (depth).

    The marquee is a replica of an old ship. One has to enter it to witness the depth of a seabed.

    According to artist Sanjay Pal, the underwater landscape is being showcased in the theme.

    “If you visit the pandal, you will have a feeling that you are standing several feet underwater in a sea,” he added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Netizens seek action against organisers of Durga Puja that had Asura looking like Gandhi 

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Outraged over the installation of a Mahishasur idol that resembled Mahatma Gandhi at a pandal in southwest Kolkata, people on social media sought immediate arrest of Hindu Mahasabha leaders who organised the Durga puja.

    Organisers Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, however, claimed that it was a “coincidence” that the Mahishasur idol, which had a bald head and was dressed in a white dhoti and round glasses, bore resemblance to Gandhi, but social media was not convinced.

    “Immediately arrest the officials of Hindu Mahasabha for depicting Mahatma Gandhi as asura in a Durga Puja at Kolkata,” tweeted one Atanu Chakravarty, tagging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

    As the photos of the Durga Puja pandal went viral on social media, the Kolkata Police told the Mahasabha to change the look of the idol and also asked journalist Indradeep Bhattacharyya, who shared it on Twitter, to delete the photograph as it “may create tension” amid the festival.

    “The Hindu Mahasabha claimed to have changed the idol on Kolkata Police’s request and ‘put moustache and hair’ on it. What an easy solution found by KP,” tweeted Ujjaini.

    Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena alleged that this was a “deliberate attempt” to demonise freedom fighters.

    “Nope, this isn’t coincidence. This is a deliberate attempt to change the narrative to suit the current narrative of demonising our freedom movement heroes. We have truly lost our moral compass as a nation,” Chaturvedi tweeted.

    One Partha Pratim Bhattacharya on Facebook urged the police to take action against the organisers of the Durga Puja as the idol “has hurt the religious sentiments of many Hindus like me”.

    “I don’t have an inkling as to what steps the law enforcement people are taking to curb this nuisance. It’s a shame for us, Indians and Bengalis is particular,” Kumar Mukherjee posted on Facebook.

    “It’s such a disgrace to my city!” posted Dwaipayan Banerjee. According to mythology, Goddess Durga slew Mahishasur in an epic battle to end his evil reign. Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha state working president Chandrachur Goswami told PTI that the organisation didn’t want to hurt anybody’s sentiments.

    “The Durga idol that was worshipped here initially had a Mahisasur whose face looked similar to that of Mahatma Gandhi. The similarities are just a coincidence. After photos of it went viral, a police team visited the pandal and asked us to make changes to the face,” he said.

    KOLKATA: Outraged over the installation of a Mahishasur idol that resembled Mahatma Gandhi at a pandal in southwest Kolkata, people on social media sought immediate arrest of Hindu Mahasabha leaders who organised the Durga puja.

    Organisers Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, however, claimed that it was a “coincidence” that the Mahishasur idol, which had a bald head and was dressed in a white dhoti and round glasses, bore resemblance to Gandhi, but social media was not convinced.

    “Immediately arrest the officials of Hindu Mahasabha for depicting Mahatma Gandhi as asura in a Durga Puja at Kolkata,” tweeted one Atanu Chakravarty, tagging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

    As the photos of the Durga Puja pandal went viral on social media, the Kolkata Police told the Mahasabha to change the look of the idol and also asked journalist Indradeep Bhattacharyya, who shared it on Twitter, to delete the photograph as it “may create tension” amid the festival.

    “The Hindu Mahasabha claimed to have changed the idol on Kolkata Police’s request and ‘put moustache and hair’ on it. What an easy solution found by KP,” tweeted Ujjaini.

    Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena alleged that this was a “deliberate attempt” to demonise freedom fighters.

    “Nope, this isn’t coincidence. This is a deliberate attempt to change the narrative to suit the current narrative of demonising our freedom movement heroes. We have truly lost our moral compass as a nation,” Chaturvedi tweeted.

    One Partha Pratim Bhattacharya on Facebook urged the police to take action against the organisers of the Durga Puja as the idol “has hurt the religious sentiments of many Hindus like me”.

    “I don’t have an inkling as to what steps the law enforcement people are taking to curb this nuisance. It’s a shame for us, Indians and Bengalis is particular,” Kumar Mukherjee posted on Facebook.

    “It’s such a disgrace to my city!” posted Dwaipayan Banerjee. According to mythology, Goddess Durga slew Mahishasur in an epic battle to end his evil reign. Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha state working president Chandrachur Goswami told PTI that the organisation didn’t want to hurt anybody’s sentiments.

    “The Durga idol that was worshipped here initially had a Mahisasur whose face looked similar to that of Mahatma Gandhi. The similarities are just a coincidence. After photos of it went viral, a police team visited the pandal and asked us to make changes to the face,” he said.

  • Baghbazar’s Durga: Goddess of freedom movement

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The drums rolled and the colourfully dressed crowds milled as the 28-feet-high Durga idol decked in traditional ‘Daker Saaj’ towered over a park, dotted with stalls selling everything from Ashirwad atta to Kwality ice-cream, in north Kolkata, at a stone’s throw from the Baghbazar jetty.

    This is Baghbazar Sarbojanin, the oldest community Durga Puja in the megapolis, known for its carnival-like atmosphere during the five days of worship of the Goddess.

    The annual puja festivities were started here in October 1919, and within a decade, Durga worship in the municipal park became a vehicle for spreading the message of ‘Swadeshi’ by selling ‘Made in India’ products, with freedom fighters including the redoubtable Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose joining in.

    “Earlier big landlords and merchant princes used to organise Durga Puja at their homes but common people often found they were shut out of parts of it, especially if English patrons were invited. So, people in this area got together 104 years ago to start the city’s first community Durga Puja at 55, Baghbazar Street,” said Abhoy Bhattacharya, 77-year-old vice president of the puja committee.

    As the puja became popular, it shifted out from the original site to open spaces which were bigger and could accommodate more people.

    At the same time in the 1920s, social reformer Nagendra Nath Ghoshal and ‘Swadeshi’ activists such as Hem Mukherjee, Durga Charan Banerjee and Chuni Lal Chatterjee joined the puja committee.

    “They approached Subhas Chandra Bose, who was then general secretary of the Congress and CEO of Calcutta Municipal Corporation, and he allotted the current site of the puja – a huge park — officially to us in 1928. From 1929 onwards, Baghbazar Sarbojanin started the Swadeshi Mela to coincide with Durga Puja, at Bose’s suggestion. This was a way to popularise ‘Swadeshi’ products such as locally-made matches, textiles, ink, paper, machinery, medicines, etc., as opposed to Lancaster or Manchester-made products which were ruling the Indian markets,” said Bhattacharya.

    The use of the Mother Goddess imagery and worship to gender imagine the motherland and bring in feelings of nationalism among the masses had started with author Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and was continued in the 20th century by both armed revolutionaries of the Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar party as well as non-violent Congress workers.

    IN PHOTOS | Kolkata kicks off Durga Puja 2022 celebrations in full spirit

    “Bankim babu fathered the idea of using gender imagining of the motherland in the 19th century and this was picked up by nationalists afterwards. The use of the festivities to get messaging across to the common people was an obvious extension,” said Professor Maroona Murmu, head of the Department of History at Jadavpur University.

    However, Murmu added that ideologues such as Rabindra Nath Tagore soon pointed out to leaders like Bose that “the mother worship imagery was alienating Muslims” and attempts were made to bring them into the fold.

    Luckily, the Muslim community as well as many others had been involved in the Baghbazar puja from the start itself and the tradition has since only been reinforced.

    “People from the ‘Mikiri Patti’ (fishermen’s locality) and Muslim drivers from the coachmen’s ‘bustee’ (slum) had always played an important part in the puja here and the Swadeshi leadership insisted that this must continue. I can proudly say they are still as involved as their forefathers. We are in the true sense a ‘Sarbojanin’ (for everyone) puja,” said Bhattacharya.

    Aditya Mukherjee, a well-known professor of contemporary history and author of several books on India’s freedom struggle explained, “Since Tilak’s time, Indian nationalists have used popular festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja and iconography associated with the motherland to popularise their messaging.”

    “But this appropriation was not intended to promote religion and conscious attempts were made to use them as ‘all religion-supported events’. The tradition continues in Kolkata where we even have Durga seated in a marquee copy of St.Peter’s Basilica,” he added.

    The Goddess idol at Baghbazar has always been a traditional one, ‘ek chala’ (in one platform) with ‘Daker Saaj’ (literally décor sent by post, in reality made of silver foil).

    “The same Pal family of clay sculptors has been making our Durga for the last 70 years,” said Soumendra Lal (Raja) Kar, a life member of the puja committee.

    As the ‘dhaaks’ (drums) continued playing and more people entered the park to see the Goddess and be part of the carnival of colours, history, tradition and commerce meshed into one single stream of endless heads, under the watchful eyes of the Goddess of Baghbazar and of the freedom movement.

    KOLKATA: The drums rolled and the colourfully dressed crowds milled as the 28-feet-high Durga idol decked in traditional ‘Daker Saaj’ towered over a park, dotted with stalls selling everything from Ashirwad atta to Kwality ice-cream, in north Kolkata, at a stone’s throw from the Baghbazar jetty.

    This is Baghbazar Sarbojanin, the oldest community Durga Puja in the megapolis, known for its carnival-like atmosphere during the five days of worship of the Goddess.

    The annual puja festivities were started here in October 1919, and within a decade, Durga worship in the municipal park became a vehicle for spreading the message of ‘Swadeshi’ by selling ‘Made in India’ products, with freedom fighters including the redoubtable Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose joining in.

    “Earlier big landlords and merchant princes used to organise Durga Puja at their homes but common people often found they were shut out of parts of it, especially if English patrons were invited. So, people in this area got together 104 years ago to start the city’s first community Durga Puja at 55, Baghbazar Street,” said Abhoy Bhattacharya, 77-year-old vice president of the puja committee.

    As the puja became popular, it shifted out from the original site to open spaces which were bigger and could accommodate more people.

    At the same time in the 1920s, social reformer Nagendra Nath Ghoshal and ‘Swadeshi’ activists such as Hem Mukherjee, Durga Charan Banerjee and Chuni Lal Chatterjee joined the puja committee.

    “They approached Subhas Chandra Bose, who was then general secretary of the Congress and CEO of Calcutta Municipal Corporation, and he allotted the current site of the puja – a huge park — officially to us in 1928. From 1929 onwards, Baghbazar Sarbojanin started the Swadeshi Mela to coincide with Durga Puja, at Bose’s suggestion. This was a way to popularise ‘Swadeshi’ products such as locally-made matches, textiles, ink, paper, machinery, medicines, etc., as opposed to Lancaster or Manchester-made products which were ruling the Indian markets,” said Bhattacharya.

    The use of the Mother Goddess imagery and worship to gender imagine the motherland and bring in feelings of nationalism among the masses had started with author Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and was continued in the 20th century by both armed revolutionaries of the Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar party as well as non-violent Congress workers.

    IN PHOTOS | Kolkata kicks off Durga Puja 2022 celebrations in full spirit

    “Bankim babu fathered the idea of using gender imagining of the motherland in the 19th century and this was picked up by nationalists afterwards. The use of the festivities to get messaging across to the common people was an obvious extension,” said Professor Maroona Murmu, head of the Department of History at Jadavpur University.

    However, Murmu added that ideologues such as Rabindra Nath Tagore soon pointed out to leaders like Bose that “the mother worship imagery was alienating Muslims” and attempts were made to bring them into the fold.

    Luckily, the Muslim community as well as many others had been involved in the Baghbazar puja from the start itself and the tradition has since only been reinforced.

    “People from the ‘Mikiri Patti’ (fishermen’s locality) and Muslim drivers from the coachmen’s ‘bustee’ (slum) had always played an important part in the puja here and the Swadeshi leadership insisted that this must continue. I can proudly say they are still as involved as their forefathers. We are in the true sense a ‘Sarbojanin’ (for everyone) puja,” said Bhattacharya.

    Aditya Mukherjee, a well-known professor of contemporary history and author of several books on India’s freedom struggle explained, “Since Tilak’s time, Indian nationalists have used popular festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja and iconography associated with the motherland to popularise their messaging.”

    “But this appropriation was not intended to promote religion and conscious attempts were made to use them as ‘all religion-supported events’. The tradition continues in Kolkata where we even have Durga seated in a marquee copy of St.Peter’s Basilica,” he added.

    The Goddess idol at Baghbazar has always been a traditional one, ‘ek chala’ (in one platform) with ‘Daker Saaj’ (literally décor sent by post, in reality made of silver foil).

    “The same Pal family of clay sculptors has been making our Durga for the last 70 years,” said Soumendra Lal (Raja) Kar, a life member of the puja committee.

    As the ‘dhaaks’ (drums) continued playing and more people entered the park to see the Goddess and be part of the carnival of colours, history, tradition and commerce meshed into one single stream of endless heads, under the watchful eyes of the Goddess of Baghbazar and of the freedom movement.

  • Horrendous that WB govt which ‘banned’ Durga Puja is taking credit for UNESCO honour: MoS Lekhi 

    Earlier this month, Banerjee had led a rally celebrating the inclusion of 'Durga Puja in Kolkata' in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

  • Not inclined to interfere in govt’s decision to extend grant to Durga puja committees: Calcutta HC

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday said that it is not inclined to interfere in the West Bengal government’s decision to extend a grant of Rs 60,000 each to over 40,000 Durga puja committees in the state.

    Petitioners in PILs challenging the grant claimed that the distribution of the amount has nothing to do with public welfare and that Durga Puja is a private affair.

    “We are not inclined to interfere in the decision of the State to extend the grant to Puja committees,” a division bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice R Bharadwaj said in its judgment.

    The bench said that it is, however, of the opinion that the grant should be strictly utilised for the purpose mentioned in a West Bengal government order of September 6.

    The court noted that the September 6 order extended a grant of Rs 60,000 to 40,028 clubs or puja committees or other similar organisations for 2022.

    The state has claimed that the grant is being given to puja organisers for the development of tourism and showcasing the cultural heritage of the state among other objectives.

    ALSO READ | Centre’s thermocol ban just ahead of Durga Puja puts idol artists in a fix

    The bench directed that guidelines already issued in previous orders of this court be complied with.

    It said that the grant will be released only to those puja committees which, in the previous year, had utilised the same for the purpose stated, and had submitted a certificate within time.

    The bench directed that the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police, through which the grant is to be distributed, will have to ensure that the funds are utilised properly.

    It also said that puja committees will have to submit utilisation certificates by November 15, following which the government will then compile a report and present it before the court by December 15.

    ALSO READ | In HC, Mamata government denies Durga Puja grant for entertainment

    The petitioners claimed that instead of making payments to Amphan victims or implementing Swasthya Sathi Scheme, which has higher priority, the money is being wrongly distributed for religious purposes.

    Opposing the prayer, Advocate General S N Mookherjee submitted that the court had earlier too refused to interfere in the state government’s decision to provide grants to puja committees He argued that the expression “public purpose” is of wide amplitude and budgetary provision has already been made for allocating the amount.

    KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday said that it is not inclined to interfere in the West Bengal government’s decision to extend a grant of Rs 60,000 each to over 40,000 Durga puja committees in the state.

    Petitioners in PILs challenging the grant claimed that the distribution of the amount has nothing to do with public welfare and that Durga Puja is a private affair.

    “We are not inclined to interfere in the decision of the State to extend the grant to Puja committees,” a division bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice R Bharadwaj said in its judgment.

    The bench said that it is, however, of the opinion that the grant should be strictly utilised for the purpose mentioned in a West Bengal government order of September 6.

    The court noted that the September 6 order extended a grant of Rs 60,000 to 40,028 clubs or puja committees or other similar organisations for 2022.

    The state has claimed that the grant is being given to puja organisers for the development of tourism and showcasing the cultural heritage of the state among other objectives.

    ALSO READ | Centre’s thermocol ban just ahead of Durga Puja puts idol artists in a fix

    The bench directed that guidelines already issued in previous orders of this court be complied with.

    It said that the grant will be released only to those puja committees which, in the previous year, had utilised the same for the purpose stated, and had submitted a certificate within time.

    The bench directed that the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police, through which the grant is to be distributed, will have to ensure that the funds are utilised properly.

    It also said that puja committees will have to submit utilisation certificates by November 15, following which the government will then compile a report and present it before the court by December 15.

    ALSO READ | In HC, Mamata government denies Durga Puja grant for entertainment

    The petitioners claimed that instead of making payments to Amphan victims or implementing Swasthya Sathi Scheme, which has higher priority, the money is being wrongly distributed for religious purposes.

    Opposing the prayer, Advocate General S N Mookherjee submitted that the court had earlier too refused to interfere in the state government’s decision to provide grants to puja committees He argued that the expression “public purpose” is of wide amplitude and budgetary provision has already been made for allocating the amount.

  • TMC celebrates UNESCO tag for Puja as BJP jibes

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Central Kolkata came to a standstill on Thursday as the West Bengal government organised a march to express gratitude to UNESCO for giving Durga Puja a heritage tag. The event turned to be a political extravaganza of the ruling party and a reply to BJP’s allegation accusing the ruling TMC of restricting Hindu festivals.

    Organised a month ahead of Durga Puja, the event, political observers say, was the TMC’s desperate attempt to woo the sentiment of Bengalis riding on the festival season. Taking a jibe at Thursday’s event and CM Mamata Banerjee, BJP’s Amit Malviya said she can take no credit for the UNESCO’s heritage tag.  

    A political observer said, “The BJP has accused TMC of restricting people of Bengal from celebrating Hindu festivals. Thursday’s march appeared to be an attempt to blunt BJP’s allegation, and divert attention from the corruption cases faced by TMC leaders.’’At the event’s end, Mamata said, “In Bengal, we celebrate festivals of all communities.’’

    KOLKATA: Central Kolkata came to a standstill on Thursday as the West Bengal government organised a march to express gratitude to UNESCO for giving Durga Puja a heritage tag. The event turned to be a political extravaganza of the ruling party and a reply to BJP’s allegation accusing the ruling TMC of restricting Hindu festivals.

    Organised a month ahead of Durga Puja, the event, political observers say, was the TMC’s desperate attempt to woo the sentiment of Bengalis riding on the festival season. Taking a jibe at Thursday’s event and CM Mamata Banerjee, BJP’s Amit Malviya said she can take no credit for the UNESCO’s heritage tag.  

    A political observer said, “The BJP has accused TMC of restricting people of Bengal from celebrating Hindu festivals. Thursday’s march appeared to be an attempt to blunt BJP’s allegation, and divert attention from the corruption cases faced by TMC leaders.’’At the event’s end, Mamata said, “In Bengal, we celebrate festivals of all communities.’’

  • Kolkata comes to standstill as TMC organises rally to celebrate UNESCO tag for Durga Puja

    By Express News Service

    Kolkata: Central Kolkata came to a standstill as the West Bengal government organised a march as a mark to express gratitude to UNESCO for giving Durga Puja a heritage tag. The event has turned out to be a political extravaganza of the ruling party and a reply to the BJP’s allegation accusing the ruling TMC of restricting Hindu festivals.

    The event is organised a month ahead of Durga Puja and political observers found it was the ruling party’s desperate attempt to woo the sentiment of Bengalis riding on the sentiment of the festival.

    Taking a jibe at Thursday’s event and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BJP’s Amit Malviya said “She is organising a rally to take credit for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage tag for Durga puja. The truth however is that she had no role whatsoever in getting the award. It was because of efforts of Sangeet Natak Aademi, an institution under the Modi government,’’ he tweeted.

    Several arterial roads were closed for vehicular movements and schools in north Kolkata announced a holiday anticipating massive footfall in the march that started from iconic Jorasanko Thakurbari and ended on Red Road.

    Bhupen Bose Avenue, J. M. Avenue, Central Avenue, Vivekananda Road, KK Tagore Street   M G Road, BB Ganguly Street, SN Banerjee Road, GC Avenue Lenin Sarani, Mayo Road RR Avenue, JL Nehru Road Esplanade Row were among the thoroughfares that were closed for traffic for many hours.

    ALSO READ | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hikes financial assistance for Durga puja clubs 

    This year, a month-long celebration ahead of Durga Puja has commenced in Kolkata from Thursday onwards.

    The state government set the festive mood in place at a time when the ruling party’s heavyweights, former minister Partha Chatterjee and party’s strongman Anubrata Mondal, were arrested on the charges of being involved in a scam by two central agencies.

    ALSO READ | Caging two birds with one festival: With Durga Puja doles, Mamata moves to corner BJP

    “The BJP, during the campaign in last year’s Assembly elections, accused Mamata’s government of restricting people of Bengal from celebrating Hindu festivals like Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja. The announcement of the month-long celebration and Thursday’s march appeared to be an attempt to blunt BJP’s allegation.

    Besides, it is also an effort to divert people’s attention from the ongoing corruption charges faced by TMC leaders. It is like caging two birds with one festival,” said a political observer preferring anonymity.

    Without naming the BJP, Mamata, at the end of the event, said, “Religious belief is an individual’s choice. In Bengal, we celebrate and become part of festivals of all communities.”

    Kolkata: Central Kolkata came to a standstill as the West Bengal government organised a march as a mark to express gratitude to UNESCO for giving Durga Puja a heritage tag. The event has turned out to be a political extravaganza of the ruling party and a reply to the BJP’s allegation accusing the ruling TMC of restricting Hindu festivals.

    The event is organised a month ahead of Durga Puja and political observers found it was the ruling party’s desperate attempt to woo the sentiment of Bengalis riding on the sentiment of the festival.

    Taking a jibe at Thursday’s event and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BJP’s Amit Malviya said “She is organising a rally to take credit for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage tag for Durga puja. The truth however is that she had no role whatsoever in getting the award. It was because of efforts of Sangeet Natak Aademi, an institution under the Modi government,’’ he tweeted.

    Several arterial roads were closed for vehicular movements and schools in north Kolkata announced a holiday anticipating massive footfall in the march that started from iconic Jorasanko Thakurbari and ended on Red Road.

    Bhupen Bose Avenue, J. M. Avenue, Central Avenue, Vivekananda Road, KK Tagore Street   M G Road, BB Ganguly Street, SN Banerjee Road, GC Avenue Lenin Sarani, Mayo Road RR Avenue, JL Nehru Road Esplanade Row were among the thoroughfares that were closed for traffic for many hours.

    ALSO READ | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hikes financial assistance for Durga puja clubs 

    This year, a month-long celebration ahead of Durga Puja has commenced in Kolkata from Thursday onwards.

    The state government set the festive mood in place at a time when the ruling party’s heavyweights, former minister Partha Chatterjee and party’s strongman Anubrata Mondal, were arrested on the charges of being involved in a scam by two central agencies.

    ALSO READ | Caging two birds with one festival: With Durga Puja doles, Mamata moves to corner BJP

    “The BJP, during the campaign in last year’s Assembly elections, accused Mamata’s government of restricting people of Bengal from celebrating Hindu festivals like Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja. The announcement of the month-long celebration and Thursday’s march appeared to be an attempt to blunt BJP’s allegation.

    Besides, it is also an effort to divert people’s attention from the ongoing corruption charges faced by TMC leaders. It is like caging two birds with one festival,” said a political observer preferring anonymity.

    Without naming the BJP, Mamata, at the end of the event, said, “Religious belief is an individual’s choice. In Bengal, we celebrate and become part of festivals of all communities.”

  • West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hikes financial assistance for Durga puja clubs 

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday hiked the financial assistance for each of the state’s over 40,000 Durga puja-organising clubs to Rs 60,000 from last year’s Rs 50,000, besides announcing a 60 per cent rebate on electricity bills.

    She said that state government employees would be entitled to an 11-day leave on the occasion of Durga puja, the biggest festival in Bengal, from September 30.

    Banerjee also stated that her government would take out a rally on September 1 to thank UNESCO for according the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) tag to the festival.

    “The Centre is not releasing funds for Bengal as a result of which the state is suffering. Despite that, we have decided to increase financial assistance for puja committees from last year’s Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. We will also give them a rebate of 60 per cent on the electricity bill,” Banerjee said.

    Also, the government, in keeping with the tradition over the past few years, would not levy several other taxes on the puja organisers, including ones imposed on advertisements, she affirmed.

    The Chief Minister stressed that the September 1 rally would have no political agenda, and anybody and everybody was free to join it.

    “This year, celebrations will be unique. Pujas will commence a day before the Mahalaya. We will organise a rally on September 1. It will not be a rally to thank UNESCO, and all are welcome to participate in it. The rally will commence from Jorasanko Thakurbari at 2 pm.”

    ALSO READ | Tour operators expect boom time this Durga puja season in Bengal as COVID threat subsides

    “I urge Kolkata Pujo Forum (body of Durga puja organisers), police personnel as well as the leaders, including MPs and MLAs, to ensure that all events take place peacefully and successfully. Do not pay heed to any instigation. I am also urging all clubs to participate in the rally,” she said.

    In a veiled attack on the BJP, she said there are some who had claimed that Durga puja and Saraswati puja are not allowed in Bengal, but have they ever thought about the scale of celebrations here and also whether such arrangements are made for these festivals anywhere else.

    Ahead of last year’s assembly polls, several BJP leaders had alleged that Durga and Saraswati puja celebrations faced hindrances in Bengal under TMC rule.

    Banerjee, talking about the September 1 rally, suggested that offices and schools be closed by 1 pm on that day to avoid chaos and traffic congestion.

    “We thank UNESCO for giving Durga Puja the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ tag. As we welcome our ‘Maa’ in the most special way, let’s make this years’ pujo grander and happier for each and everyone,” she added.

    “Celebrate the way you want. Let someone play the conch shell at the rally if she wants to, someone may sing. But everyone must wear bright clothes. I will invite 10,000 students from senior schools to be part of this rally,” she stated at an administrative meeting at Netaji Indoor Stadium here.

    The CM also said that the annual Durga Puja carnival at Red Road here would be held on October 8, three days after ‘Dashami’.

    Similar carnivals would also be arranged in the districts, she said, adding that the government would be giving a two-day holiday for Kali Puja.

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday hiked the financial assistance for each of the state’s over 40,000 Durga puja-organising clubs to Rs 60,000 from last year’s Rs 50,000, besides announcing a 60 per cent rebate on electricity bills.

    She said that state government employees would be entitled to an 11-day leave on the occasion of Durga puja, the biggest festival in Bengal, from September 30.

    Banerjee also stated that her government would take out a rally on September 1 to thank UNESCO for according the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) tag to the festival.

    “The Centre is not releasing funds for Bengal as a result of which the state is suffering. Despite that, we have decided to increase financial assistance for puja committees from last year’s Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. We will also give them a rebate of 60 per cent on the electricity bill,” Banerjee said.

    Also, the government, in keeping with the tradition over the past few years, would not levy several other taxes on the puja organisers, including ones imposed on advertisements, she affirmed.

    The Chief Minister stressed that the September 1 rally would have no political agenda, and anybody and everybody was free to join it.

    “This year, celebrations will be unique. Pujas will commence a day before the Mahalaya. We will organise a rally on September 1. It will not be a rally to thank UNESCO, and all are welcome to participate in it. The rally will commence from Jorasanko Thakurbari at 2 pm.”

    ALSO READ | Tour operators expect boom time this Durga puja season in Bengal as COVID threat subsides

    “I urge Kolkata Pujo Forum (body of Durga puja organisers), police personnel as well as the leaders, including MPs and MLAs, to ensure that all events take place peacefully and successfully. Do not pay heed to any instigation. I am also urging all clubs to participate in the rally,” she said.

    In a veiled attack on the BJP, she said there are some who had claimed that Durga puja and Saraswati puja are not allowed in Bengal, but have they ever thought about the scale of celebrations here and also whether such arrangements are made for these festivals anywhere else.

    Ahead of last year’s assembly polls, several BJP leaders had alleged that Durga and Saraswati puja celebrations faced hindrances in Bengal under TMC rule.

    Banerjee, talking about the September 1 rally, suggested that offices and schools be closed by 1 pm on that day to avoid chaos and traffic congestion.

    “We thank UNESCO for giving Durga Puja the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ tag. As we welcome our ‘Maa’ in the most special way, let’s make this years’ pujo grander and happier for each and everyone,” she added.

    “Celebrate the way you want. Let someone play the conch shell at the rally if she wants to, someone may sing. But everyone must wear bright clothes. I will invite 10,000 students from senior schools to be part of this rally,” she stated at an administrative meeting at Netaji Indoor Stadium here.

    The CM also said that the annual Durga Puja carnival at Red Road here would be held on October 8, three days after ‘Dashami’.

    Similar carnivals would also be arranged in the districts, she said, adding that the government would be giving a two-day holiday for Kali Puja.

  • Durga Puja festivities to start 10 days prior in 2022 to celebrate UNESCO honour: Mamata

    This honour is the result of our determination, our perseverance. It is recognition of a unique festival like Durga Puja, which is unparalleled in the world, she said.

  • Rising virus cases in Bengal, Assam: Centre asks states to enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: In view of rising coronavirus cases, weekly positivity rates and decreasing testing figures in Assam and West Bengal, the Centre has asked the state governments to undertake a review of these parameters while stressing on strict enforcement of Covid-appropriate behaviour.

    In a letter to chief secretaries of Assam and West Bengal on October 26, Additional Secretary in the Union Health Ministry, Arti Ahuja, highlighted increase in weekly new Covid cases since the past week (October 20-26) and early signs of rise in positivity since the last four weeks till October 25.

    On October 22, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had also written to West Bengal expressing concern over the rise in Covid cases in Kolkata, following Durga Puja celebrations earlier this month.

    Ahuja, in her letter to Assam, pointed out that there has been 41 per cent increase in weekly new cases since the past week (October 20-26) and that there have been early signs of rise in positivity since last four weeks from 1.89 per cent in the week of September 28-October 4 to 2.22 per cent in the week of October 19-25.

    “The state has also witnessed decline in tests conducted from 1,64,071 in the week of September 28-October 4 to 1,27,048 in the week of October 19-25. Because of the rising positivity, the state needs to conduct enhanced testing while maintaining the required RT-PCR share as it will aid in early identification of infection in the state,” he said.

    Two districts of Assam — Barpeta and Kamrup Metro — the additional secretary said have been identified as districts of concern due to high quantum af Covid cases and weekly positivity.

    Similarly, in West Bengal, she said two districts — Kolkata and Howrah — have been identified as districts of concern due to high quantum of cases and positivity.

    Ahuja pointed out that the state has shown approximately 41 per cent rise in weekly new cases since the past week, 6,040 cases in the week of October 20-26 compared to 4,277 cases in the week of October 13-19 and that there have been early signs of increase in positivity since the past four weeks from 1.93 per cent in the week of September 28- October 4 to 2.39 per cent during October 19-25.

    West Bengal has also witnessed decline in the tests conducted from 2,62,319 during September 28-October 4 to 2,61,515 in the week of October 19-25.

    It has been observed that Covid cases surge exponentially where basic public health strategy (testing, tracking, treatment, Covid-appropriate behaviour and vaccination) is not followed rigorously, she said in the letter.

    In this context, the officer has stressed on monitoring of cases by proper implementation of containment-zones, increased focus on house-to-house search for active Covid cases within these zones, strict and daily monitoring of cases under home isolation and their referral to hospitals and strengthening contact tracing of COVID-19 positive people and review of containment zones in Assam and West Bengal.

    Besides, there should be a detailed district-wise and facility-wise analysis of deaths, which include review of number of fatalities that take place within 24 and 72 hours of admission to hospitals to resolve problems related with late hospital admission and the need for monitoring treatment practices.

    The letter also underlines strengthening the system for early and smooth admission of cases along with a real-time public dashboard highlighting the available hospital or bed infrastructure, strict adherence to National Treatment Protocols, augmenting ICUs, oxygen beds and ventilator capacity in the state and ramping up testing figures, while maintaining the share of RT-PCR tests.

    Aim for 100 per cent first dose coverage of 18-plus population along with increasing the pace of the second dose of vaccination for eligible population, the letter stated.

    As far as super spreader events and places are concerned, there should be strict surveillance and monitoring as per standard operating protocols (SOPs) of the health ministry and testing as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines, besides ensuring Covid-appropriate behaviour: Mask-wearing and physical distancing must be strictly enforced.

    Also, it called for timely updating of the district-level data related to new cases, deaths, hospitalisation status, in hotspots in the Covid India portal and routine submission of RT-PCR positive samples from international travellers as well as from community for genomic analysis at the designated Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network laboratory as per laid down protocols.

    A rapid response team must be constituted as per the INSACOG guidelines for detailed investigation of mutations reported through the INSACOG.