Ashtami dry day, no DJ music, no carnival: BJP govt lays down Durga Puja rules

Liquor shops and bars across West Bengal will remain closed on Maha Ashtami during the upcoming Durga Puja, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Monday (September 7), as the state government unveiled a series of measures new to the state and the festival.

Addressing a coordination meeting with Durga Puja committees at Kolkata’s Milan Mela Prangan, Adhikari said no liquor would be sold anywhere in the state on Maha Ashtami. “On the day when devotees offer anjali (Maha Ashtami) to Maa Durga, all liquor shops in the state will remain closed. There will be no liquor available in bars either,” he said.

The decision comes despite the traditionally high demand for liquor during the Puja days.

No DJ music, no controversial themes

Adhikari also announced a complete ban on DJ music during the festivities as well as immersion processions, stressing the need to maintain discipline and preserve the traditional character of the festival.

Also read: Durga Puja becomes new battleground for BJP factions in Bengal

The chief minister asked Puja committees to ensure that their idols, pandals and themes do not hurt religious sentiments or undermine Sanatan traditions. Theme-based Pujas, however, will be permitted, he said, while urging organisers to exercise greater caution in selecting their themes.

The administration also imposed restrictions on the use of roads for Puja-related activities. No national highway will be allowed to be blocked for organising a Puja, while in Kolkata, 13 major roads, including Red Road and Cathedral Road, have been identified where such activities will not be permitted.

No inaugurations before Devi Paksha

The government will not allow Puja inaugurations before the beginning of Devi Paksha, Adhikari said.

Devi Paksha is a bright lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin dedicated to the worship and invocation of Goddess Durga. Former chief minister Mamata Banerjee was accused of inaugurating several Durga Pujas before the commencement of Devi Paksha.

On immersion, Adhikari said organisers would have to complete the process within the stipulated period before the Lakshmi Puja. “There will be no forcing or threatening anyone to change the immersion date,” he said.

Sharad Samman awards remain

The state government has also planned a range of cultural and social initiatives during the festival. Two-day cultural programmes will be organised in six major cities, while special programmes will be held at six designated immersion ghats.

Special arrangements will be made to enable persons with disabilities, residents of old-age homes and people living in different ashrams to undertake Puja visits, officials said.

Also read: Bengal BJP chief rejects Bageshwar Baba’s call to shun non-veg during Durga Puja

The government will also constitute an impartial jury for the Sharad Samman awards, with members selected for their knowledge of the traditional, ritual and cultural aspects of Durga Puja, Adhikari said. Sharad Samman awards are honours given to Durga Puja organisers for creative and artistic excellence.

Grant goes down

The meeting was held as the state prepares for its first Durga Puja under the BJP government, with the administration seeking to balance large-scale celebrations with restrictions aimed at maintaining public order and safeguarding religious and cultural sentiments.

Adhikari also announced a Rs 1 lakh grant for Durga Puja committees this year, Rs 10,000 less than last year’s assistance, and urged large-budget pujas to voluntarily forgo the aid.

The government also announced a 100 per cent waiver of electricity charges for puja committees across the state and said they would not have to pay fees for obtaining fire safety clearances.

From Rs 25,000 to Rs 1.10 lakh

“I do not want to misuse the powers of the chief minister. I would request those who are capable (of organising pujas without government assistance) not to take the financial aid. Those who cannot organise the puja without this money will be given Rs 1 lakh by the government,” he said.

The chief minister also left it to the committees to decide whether they wanted to accept the grant. “Those who need the grant can apply locally, while those who do not need it can choose not to take it. I leave the matter to the puja committees,” he said.

Also read: Durga Puja politics: BJP faces test in dismantling TMC’s festival grip

Adhikari took a swipe at former chief minister Mamata Banerjee while referring to the gradual increase in the government grant, which was initially fixed at Rs 25,000. “What the former chief minister was doing was not right. It started at Rs 25,000 and reached Rs 1.10 lakh. It did not help in elections. Many have become dependent on it,” he said.

No carnival

A government-organised Durga Puja programme will be held at Eden Gardens on Mahalaya, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend. The four-hour event will include drone and fireworks displays, Adhikari said.

The government will not organise the Durga Puja carnival this year, a prominent feature of the previous administration. “The carnival that was imposed (on people) will not take place,” Adhikari said.

Adhikari said the government had held discussions with the state electricity authorities and CESC to ensure that puja committees across the state, including those in Kolkata, would receive electricity free of charge during the festival.

‘Distorted’ Durga image

While addressing the coordination meeting at the Milan Mela premises, the chief minister also apologised for a goof-up in an ad released in newspapers depicting Goddess Durga with 11 arms instead of 10. The advertisement was to announce the coordination meeting.

His apology came after Opposition Trinamool Congress took a dig at the BJP government for the “distortion”. Adhikari said those responsible for the advertisement have been cautioned and assured people that the government would be more careful in the future.

Also read: VHP’s Durga Puja diktats draw flak

“Honourable Chief Minister, in the government advertisement, Maa Durga, who is traditionally depicted as doshobhuja (ten-armed), has become ekadoshbhuja (eleven-armed). According to scriptures, one hand needs to be removed,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said in a social media post. He posted an image of the government poster bearing photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Adhikari besides an image of the Goddess.

“We hear about various codes of conduct every day. If the number of the Mother’s arms increases in 2026, the matter could become complicated. Please immediately instruct the department concerned not to distort the original depiction of the Mother Goddess,” he added with the sarcastic note.

CM apologises, BJP chief plays down

Adhikari, though, made no effort to defend the alleged “mistake”. “First of all, as the chief minister of the state, I apologise. A defective advertisement was published this morning. I apologise for that. Those who issued the defective advertisement have been cautioned. The government will be more careful about such matters in future,” he said at the meeting.

Earlier in the day, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya also responded on the matter, maintaining such issues do not merit a political controversy.

“(With an extra hand) Maa Durga has now become even more powerful. I did not see the advertisement, but it seems that the agency concerned made a grave mistake. But such matters don’t deserve political intervention. Those who committed the error will surely rectify it,” Bhattacharya told reporters.

(With agency inputs)