KOLKATA, Sept. 11 -- Several Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata including a few patronised by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders until last year will forgo the Rs.1 lakh festival-related state grant following an appeal made by West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari.

A handful of puja committees have also decided to donate an equal amount of Rs.1 lakh to the chief minister's relief fund.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government reduced the state government's grant to community Durga Pujas in the state from Rs.110,000 given by the previous Mamata Banerjee-administration in 2025 to Rs.100,000 this year.

Trimming state aid

Adhikari also appealed to big-budget puja committees to forgo the grant.

"A puja committee needs to have a minim...