West Bengal urges Durga Puja committees to reject government funding

West Bengal's government has called upon Durga Puja committees across the state to forgo government financial assistance and operate autonomously, marking a significant shift in state policy toward the region's most celebrated festival.

Under the new guidelines, no Puja inaugurations will be permitted before Mahalaya, the auspicious day marking the beginning of Devi Paksha in the Hindu calendar. State authorities have also announced they will not organise a carnival this year as part of official Durga Puja festivities.

The directives aim to encourage grassroots, community-led organisation of the festival while streamlining state involvement in celebrations. Officials have indicated that committees managing individual Pujas should shoulder the responsibility of securing their own resources and managing events independently.

These restrictions represent an attempt to reshape the relationship between government institutions and traditional community celebrations, shifting financial and organisational burdens toward local committees and private sponsors. The move is expected to influence how hundreds of Durga Puja committees across West Bengal organise their festivities in the coming season.

The measures underscore the state's push to depoliticise major cultural events and encourage self-reliant community participation in organising one of India's most significant religious and cultural observances.