West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday issued a set of new guidelines for Durga Puja celebrations in the state next month, including a complete ban on the sale of alcohol and DJs.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting with Durga Puja committees to discuss preparations and arrangements, Adhikari said the festival will be celebrated with great sanctity and tradition, bring together Sanskritic and Bengali cultural traditions.
“No one should have to approach the High Court simply to exercise their right to perform Durga Puja. The Constitution guarantees the right to practise one’s religion. For the past few years, there was a system of imposing certain arrangements in the name of the carnival. That will not be happening this
year,” he said.
Durga Puja Arrangements In Bengal
Adhikari said the Tourism Department of West Bengal will organise its biggest programme on Mahalaya at the iconic Eden Gardens, which will involve a four-hour programme, including a drone show.
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The BJP government has discontinued the Durga Puja carnival on Kolkata’s Red Road, which was started by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, months after the administration faced criticism and allegations of minority appeasement over its decision to restrict idol immersions around Muharram.
He said cranes cannot be allowed during idol immersion at the ghats. Furthermore, DJs have been completely banned during the visarjan process to avoid inconveniencing devotees.
The Chief Minister informed that all liquor ships will remain closed on Ashtami (eighth day). “For smaller puja committees that cannot organise the celebrations without financial assistance, the government will provide a grant of Rs 1 lakh,” he added.
Adhikari criticised the previous TMC government’s decision to provide grants for all puja committees, adding, “I would urge larger, financially capable puja committees not to accept the government grant for their celebrations.”
The chief minister also said the government would not allow roads and national highways to be unnecessarily blocked in the name of organising pujas. “National highways cannot be blocked. Puja cannot be organised by blocking roads,” he said, indicating that organisers would have to ensure that public movement was not disrupted.
Durga Puja, West Bengal’s biggest annual festival, begins on October 10, 2026. It attracts millions of visitors to Kolkata and other parts of the state and has emerged as a major cultural and tourism event over the years.
