Big pujas forgo govt grant after CM appeal
Times of India | 9 September 2026Adhikari on Monday announced the Rs 1 lakh grant for organisers while appealing to large-budget pujas not to apply for the assistance. The administration had provided a grant of Rs 1.1 lakh each to around 45,000 registered clubs and puja committees last year.
Adhikari also asked private electricity provider CESC and state-owned WBSEDCL to provide free electricity to Durga Puja organisers. The waiver was 80% last year.
On Tuesday, several puja committees posted on their social media accounts that they would not be applying for the financial grant announced by the CM on Monday.
Among the major pujas that have announced that they will not apply for the grant are Santoshpur Lake Pally, Santoshpur Avenue South, Naktala Udayan Sangha, Singhi Park Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee, Thakurpukur SB Park Sarbojanin and Rajdanga Naba Udayan Sangha. Several of the committees said govt’s electricity concessions would provide greater relief to their budgets than the grant, while some also indicated that they could contribute to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
New Town Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samiti has welcomed the CM’s decision to extend a grant of Rs 1 lakh to puja committees but said it would not seek the assistance. “We thank the honourable CM, but we have decided not to apply for the grant,” said a member of the committee.
Thakurpukur SB Park Sarbojanin has also decided to honour chief minister’s appeal. “We have decided not to apply for the grant,” said Sanjay Majumdar, secretary of Thakurpukur SB Park Sarbojanin.
Rajdanga Naba Udayan Sangha went a step further, deciding to donate the grant if it were received. “We have decided to donate the entire amount to the CM’s Relief Fund,” said Keya Ghosh, chairperson of the Rajdanga Naba Udayan Sangha.
Santoshpur Lake Pally issued a statement saying it would not apply for the puja grant. Somnath Das, a member of its executive committee, said the waiver of other expenses had also reduced the financial pressure on organisers.
“Every year we had to spend at least Rs 3 lakh for the carnival, and we were forced to do so. This time we have no such extra burden. So, why should we apply for this grant?,” Das said.
Singhi Park Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee, which is celebrating its 85th year of Durga Puja, also announced that it would not accept the grant.
Naktala Udayan Sangha also announced that it would not seek the financial assistance.
The decision by the larger pujas stands in contrast to the response from smaller committees, many of which have welcomed the Rs 1 lakh assistance.
“We are a very small puja and heavily depend on the state’s financial grant. This year, we were worried if we would get it. The official announcement by the CM has come as a relief. We will certainly apply for the grant,” said Anirban Chakraborty of ODRC LIG Housing Estate Durga Puja in Behala.
For Jadavpur Porshimohol, the grant is crucial to keeping the puja going. The committee’s entire budget last year was Rs 1.4 lakh, of which Rs 1.1 lakh came as govt assistance. “We are totally dependent on the grant,” said Subhasree Basu, the main organiser.
At Friends Association puja committee in Kalikapur, members held their first Durga Puja meeting only after Monday’s announcement.
