Kolkata, Oct. 10 -- West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday launched the festivities centred around this year's Durga Puja, the biggest festival for people in the eastern state, at a grand ceremony at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.

"Our government decided that the Durga Puja (festivities) cannot be initiated during the Pitru Paksha phase. That's why it is being launched today, as the Devi Paksha has begun. On one hand, we decided to maintain the cultural tradition of the Durga Puja; on the other hand, we decided to adhere to the religious norms and our scriptures," he said.

This is the first Durga Puja since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in May this year, ousting the Trinamool Congress government....