Kolkata, Sept. 7 -- With Durga Puja preparations gathering pace, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced a set of new directives, including a complete ban on liquor sales on Maha Ashtami and a curb on DJ music during the Puja days and immersion processions.
The Chief Minister also announced that Bengal will do away with the post-Puja carnival on Red Road, an event introduced by the Mamata Banerjee government. He further said that, from this year, Durga Puja pandals would be inaugurated only after the beginning of 'Devi Paksha'.
"On the day of Maha Ashtami, when we pay floral tributes to the Goddess in this state, all liquor shops shall be closed, including bars. Liquor cannot be sold on the day of Ashtami," Adhikari said.
"There will be no DJ music during Puja days or during the procession of idols," Adhikari added. He urged Puja committees to complete the immersion of idols before Lakshmi Puja, which falls on October 25 this year.
The carnival held during the Trinamool Congress' regime had featured a grand parade of Durga idols from several Puja committees before they were taken for immersion in the Hooghly River.
It had become a prominent feature of Kolkata's Durga Puja celebrations since Banerjee's second tenure as Chief Minister.
Adhikari also appealed to the Puja organisers to immerse idols before Lakshmi puja. "I would urge everyone to complete the idol immersion by the day before," Adhikari said. He requested organisers not to distort the traditional representation of Goddess Durga or create themes and installations that could hurt religious sentiments or compromise Bengal's cultural heritage.
"Regarding idols, pandals, themes, or decorations-please do nothing that compromises religious or cultural heritage and religious sentiments," Adhikari stated. The appeal comes at a time when theme-based Durga Pujas are famous in Bengal.
Chief Minister also urged big-ticket Durga pujas not to apply for Puja grants. He, however, assured that small-scale Puja committees can apply for grants of Rs 1 lakh. He announced free electricity and a waiver of the fee for mandatory fire safety licences.
"I do not wish to issue directives or misuse my authority. I am making a request: I urge those with the means and large budgets not to accept government assistance for the Puja," Adhikari said. Hitting out at the previous Trinamool Congress government for giving grants to all puja pandals, Adhikari said: "People have developed a bad habit; in the past, they used to collect voluntary subscriptions (chanda). That is how community Durga Pujas used to be organised," Adhikari said. He argued that organising a decent Puja could cost at least 10 lakh and urged committees with the means to raise additional funds through advertisements rather than depending on government grants.
Bengal had imposed a liquor ban on Ashtami in the past, though in recent years the restriction was limited to Dashami. The Chief Minister also said the government would review the practice of lifting idols with cranes during immersion, observing that it did not present a good sight. Adhikari also stated that his government is organising a mega event "Uma Agamoni," at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on the day of Mahalaya. One main purpose of this show will be to showcase Bengal's Durga Puja to the world on a larger scale. Prime Minister will be invited, the CM added.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.