DMs told to send list of Durga Pujas to be inaugurated by VVIPs
The Statesman | 9 September 2025Recently, the state secretariat, Nabanna, has written to the DMs saying: “DMs are requested to kindly start shortlisting the preferred Pujas urgently in consultation with the SPs/CPs and senior district public representatives…”
Sources in the state information and cultural affairs department said, each district has been instructed to send a list of 25 Pujas through email by Monday.
Sources requesting anonymity also said that the concerned district administration has been told to ensure presence of DM, SP and CP and senior public representatives or ministers during the inauguration as well as unveiling programmes of the Durga idols.
Every year, Miss Banerjee and her cabinet colleagues inaugurate community Durga Puja festivals organised by clubs in Kolkata and districts.
The chief minister has already announced to hike the annual Durga Puja grant to Rs 1.10 lakh, which is given to over 40,000 Puja committees in the state.
At a mega conclave of representatives from Puja committees held at Netaji Indoor Stadium in the city on 30 July, she had announced waiving government fees, including fire licence charges, and providing complete tax exemption by civic agencies such as the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), panchayats, and municipalities, as well as an 80 per cent electricity concession.
“Durga Puja is not just a religious celebration. It is the lifeline of Bengal’s cultural identity, our praner utsab (soul festival). We are proud that UNESCO has recognised this. It’s our collective responsibility to preserve that glory,” the chief minister had said at Netaji Indoor Stadium, referring to UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage tag given to the Durga Puja festivities in the state in 2021.
On 25 August, the division bench of Justice Sujoy Pal and Justice Smita Das had raised several questions related to state government grants to Puja committees.
The Bench wanted to know about the government’s stand on puja committees that are yet to submit their ‘utilisation certificates’ on the grant to the administration. “Why will the committees be given grants if they don’t submit ‘utilisation certificates’? How many of them are not giving details of expenditures? Are they still getting grants?” the bench had raised questions.
The state government said in court that the grant has been given for the interest of common people. The grant is being spent by committees to create social awareness on different public interest issues like ‘safe drive, save life’ etc.
