Kolkata, Nov. 6 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari inaugurated several Kali Puja pandals across West Bengal on Thursday and Friday as festive celebrations gathered momentum, while announcing plans for a Tirupati temple in Rajarhat with the support of industrialist Mukesh Ambani and his son Anant Ambani.
Speaking at a programme in Rajarhat, Adhikari said he had discussed the proposal with the Ambanis during his recent visit to Mumbai for Ganesh Puja. He said they had agreed to purchase 17 acres of land for the temple, adding that he had urged them to ensure that devotees visiting the shrine received free prasad.
On Friday, the chief minister inaugurated pujas organised by Rajarhat Pallishree Sangha, Chandpara Abhoy Lions Club in Nadia and Satadal Club in Aranghata, also in Nadia. On Thursday, he opened the celebrations at Nakrastha Baradighari Janakalyan Samiti in Asansol, where state minister Agnimitra Paul and MLAs Jitendra Tiwari and Lakhan Ghorui were present. He later inaugurated another puja at Nuni More in the Barabani Assembly constituency, organised at the initiative of local MLA Arijit Roy.
Adhikari also attended a Kali Puja inauguration in Barasat on Thursday evening alongside state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya. Both leaders conveyed a message of religious freedom and the promotion of Sanatani culture during the celebrations.
Meanwhile, a recent State Police Intelligence Branch report has revealed that Kali Puja has outnumbered Durga Puja across West Bengal, excluding the Kolkata Police Commissionerate area. The report recorded 72,609 Kali Pujas across the state, against 66,919 Durga Pujas held last month, indicating the scale of this year's festivities.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.