Durga Puja committees reject Mamata govt's festival grants in protest over Kolkata rape-murder case
4 months ago

Durga Puja committees reject Mamata govt's festival grants in protest over Kolkata rape-murder case

India TV News  

The brutal rape and murder of a trainee female doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 has sent shockwaves across the nation, igniting state-wide protests and raising serious questions about the West Bengal government and state police's handling of the case. Now, the tragic incident has also cast a shadow over this year's Durga Puja celebrations, with several Puja committees joining in protest against the heinous crime. Grant rejection in solidarity In a remarkable show of solidarity, amid the onging protest over the incident, many Durga Puja organizers have decided to reject the annual festival grants provided by the Trinamool Congress government. Our way of demanding justice One of the first Puja committees to reject the government grant is Uttarpara Shakti Sangha, located in Uttarpara, Hooghly district. Significantly, following the example set by Uttarpara Shakti Sangha, other Durga Puja committees, including Highland Park Utsav Committee in south Kolkata, Apanader Durga Puja in Uttarpara Jaykrishna Street, and Bethua-Dahari Town Club in Nadia district also followed suit.

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History of this topic

Hindu festival in Bangladesh under tight security following attacks
2 months, 1 week ago

Hindu festival in Bangladesh under tight security following attacks

LA Times  

Schoolteacher Supriya Sarker is glad to celebrate Bangladesh’s largest Hindu festival of Durga Puja but says the festivities would be more jubilant without the fear and violence that overshadow this year’s event. This is our country, we want to live here peacefully with our Muslim brothers and sisters and others without discrimination or intimidation.” Her concern comes as the country’s …

This Durga Puja, Noida pandals pay homage to Kolkata rape victim
2 months, 2 weeks ago

This Durga Puja, Noida pandals pay homage to Kolkata rape victim

Hindustan Times  

Gautam Budh Nagar district is all geared up to usher in Durga Puja festivities from Thursday, with leading Durga Puja committees dedicating their pandal themes to pay homage to the Kolkata rape and murder case victim while also highlighting women empowerment and the rich artistic and cultural heritage of Bengal. We will treat this year’s Durga Puja to throw light …

Women’s empowerment at heart of Delhi’s Durga Puja this year
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Women’s empowerment at heart of Delhi’s Durga Puja this year

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi Artisans give final touches to statues of deity Durga at CR Park. “Women empowerment is the central theme of this year’s puja, in light of the RG Kar Hospital case and we want to spread the message, using the high footfall at pandals,” Prodip Ganguly, general secretary of the Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Durga Puja Samiti, said. “We …

Kolkata Durga Puja Committees Reject Mamata Govt Grant In Protest Against RG Kar Rape-Murder
4 months ago

Kolkata Durga Puja Committees Reject Mamata Govt Grant In Protest Against RG Kar Rape-Murder

ABP News  

Kolkata: In a growing wave of dissent, Durga Puja committees are returning the state government’s grant in protest against the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal gives a grant to different committees that organise the annual Durga Puja celebrations. The committee members said they are …

Doctor murder: Durga Puja organiser calls upon others to decline Bengal govt's ₹85,000 honorarium
4 months ago

Doctor murder: Durga Puja organiser calls upon others to decline Bengal govt's ₹85,000 honorarium

Hindustan Times  

Kolkata, Amid protests against the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata, BJP leader and chief organiser of crowd-puller Santosh Mitra Square Puja Committee, Sajal Ghosh on Saturday called upon all Durga Puja committees across West Bengal to decline the state government's ₹85,000 honorarium as a mark of protest against "failure to ensure women safety". Ghosh said his …

Mamata Banerjee hikes Durga Puja grant for clubs to ₹85,000; assures ₹1L next year
5 months ago

Mamata Banerjee hikes Durga Puja grant for clubs to ₹85,000; assures ₹1L next year

Hindustan Times  

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday increased the state grant, for community clubs that organise Durga Puja across Bengal, from ₹70,000 to ₹85,000 each, with an assurance of ₹1 lakh next year. With around 40,000 Durga pujas held by community clubs across the state, including around 3,000 in Kolkata and its surrounding areas, the Trinamool Congress government will …

Fact Check: Amit Shah's Claim That Mamata Govt Does Not Give Holiday For Durga Puja Is False
7 months ago

Fact Check: Amit Shah's Claim That Mamata Govt Does Not Give Holiday For Durga Puja Is False

ABP News  

Fact Check: Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently said, at an election speech in West Bengal's Serampore, accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of "discrimination" as he said she refuses to grant government holidays for Durga Puja but gives holidays to Muslims during Ramzan. BOOM found that the West Bengal government grants holidays not only for Durga Puja but for other …

A season of Puja politics begins in West Bengal
1 year, 2 months ago

A season of Puja politics begins in West Bengal

The Hindu  

With Mahalaya being observed across West Bengal on Saturday, the Durga Puja festival in the State has begun and the next few days will not only mark the onset of festivities but also subtle politics centred around the cultural extravaganza. From honorarium to community Durga Puja pandals, to the themes around the Puja, bonus to contractual employees, the literature sold …

Durga Puja festivities return to Bhubaneswar in full glory after 2-year Covid hiatus | Pics
2 years, 2 months ago

Durga Puja festivities return to Bhubaneswar in full glory after 2-year Covid hiatus | Pics

India Today  

After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic, Durga Puja festivities are back in full swing in Bhubaneswar. From Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir to Delhi’s Akshardham Temple and Russia’s Heritage Museum, puja committees in Bhubaneswar have come up with innovative themed Durga Puja pandals, to attract pandal-hoppers. In a conversation with Aaj Tak, Rasulgarh Puja Committee member Prashant Kumar said, …

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Plays Dhak At Inauguration Of Durga Puja In Kolkata
2 years, 2 months ago

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Plays Dhak At Inauguration Of Durga Puja In Kolkata

ABP News  

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee played the 'dhak' at the inauguration of the community Durga Puja in Kolkata on Wednesday to kick off the festivities. #WATCH | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee played a dhak during the inauguration of Suruchi Sangha Puja Pandal in Kolkata earlier today. #DurgaPuja pic.twitter.com/W5ciwCR3Fd — ANI September 28, 2022 This year, the …

Make sure no roads are blocked during Durga Puja: Mamata Banerjee tells minister
2 years, 3 months ago

Make sure no roads are blocked during Durga Puja: Mamata Banerjee tells minister

India Today  

Ahead of Durga Puja and festivities, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned ministers and local leaders not to block roads. The statement holds relevance as MLA from Bidhannagar's Durga Puja pandal, last year, was modelled on the pattern of the world's largest building. If any mishap happens then my language will change toward you," the West Bengal chief minister …

Mamata’s bonanza for Durga Puja organisers
2 years, 3 months ago

Mamata’s bonanza for Durga Puja organisers

The Hindu  

Published : Sep 08, 2022 11:00 IST West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s announcement of a Rs.258-crore grant to clubs organising Durga Puja festivities has once again exposed the Trinamool Congress’s propensity to play the religion card and flirt with a softer form of “majoritarianism” in an attempt to counter the BJP’s hardline Hindutva stand. On August 22, even as …

The problematic Durga Puja push
2 years, 3 months ago

The problematic Durga Puja push

The Hindu  

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent decision to increase the honorarium to puja committees organising community Durga Pujas has once again triggered a debate on the relationship between state and religion. Since 2018, when the Trinamool Congress government started giving ₹10,000 to each community Durga Puja club, the honorarium has increased to ₹60,000. For the last 11 years, Ms. …

Early Durga Puja celebration in West Bengal with a grand rally: Mamata Banerjee
2 years, 3 months ago

Early Durga Puja celebration in West Bengal with a grand rally: Mamata Banerjee

The Hindu  

With the ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ being included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the autumn festival started early with the State on Thursday with the West Bengal government organising a rally to celebrate the global recognition. UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Secretary Tim Curtis said that in inscribing Durga Puja in Kolkata on the list the intergovernmental committee for …

Home Minister Amit Shah invited to Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata
2 years, 3 months ago

Home Minister Amit Shah invited to Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata

India Today  

The Santosh Mitra Square puja committee has invited Union Home Minister Amit Shah to attend the Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata. Bengal BJP leader and Puja committee secretary Sajal Ghosh said Amit Shah was invited to attend the opening ceremony and might inaugurate the Durga puja pandal. We have invited Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the occasion." Earlier, West …

11-day holiday for government offices in this state. Here’s why
2 years, 4 months ago

11-day holiday for government offices in this state. Here’s why

Live Mint  

Government offices in West Bengal will remain closed for a total of 11 days during Durga Puja, i.e. UNESCO on December 15 inscribed "Durga Puja in Kolkata" on the "Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity". Durga puja is now inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity! Meanwhile, UNESCO Director Eric Falt …

Mamata hikes honorarium to community Durga Puja committees to ₹60,000
2 years, 4 months ago

Mamata hikes honorarium to community Durga Puja committees to ₹60,000

The Hindu  

Describing the Durga Puja festival this year as “special”, as the festival comes after it has been recognised by UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday hiked the honorarium for community Durga Pujas. Addressing representatives of community Puja organisers in Kolkata, Ms. Banerjee said that honorarium to clubs which organise community Durga Puja …

Bengal CM Mamata announces Rs 60,000 grant to Durga Puja committees, 11 days holiday
2 years, 4 months ago

Bengal CM Mamata announces Rs 60,000 grant to Durga Puja committees, 11 days holiday

India Today  

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her government will increase the grant to Durga Puja organising committees in the state from Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. “Last year, the Durga Puja committees received financial assistance of Rs 50,000. During the meeting, Mamata Banerjee also announced 60 per cent discount on power tariff to Durga Puja organisers. CM Mamata …

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee makes major announcements for durga puja
2 years, 4 months ago

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee makes major announcements for durga puja

Live Mint  

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that the the government holidays in the state for Durga Puja will be from September 30 to October 10. Additionally, the chief minister said that the government will increase the financial assistance to Durga Puja organising committees from ₹50,000 to ₹60,000. Mamata Banerjee on Monday hiked the donation amount for each …

Bangladesh Durga Puja Violence: Vandalism Continues; Minorities Call for Countrywide Hunger Strike
3 years, 2 months ago

Bangladesh Durga Puja Violence: Vandalism Continues; Minorities Call for Countrywide Hunger Strike

News 18  

A Hindu temple has been vandalised in Bangladesh in a fresh case of communal unrest amidst days of violence unleashed by unidentified Muslim bigots who attacked the minority community’s places of worship during the Durga Puja celebrations over alleged blasphemy, prompting a minority group to announce a countrywide hunger strike, media reports said on Sunday. Meanwhile, in the country’s southeastern …

Here are some of this year's stunning Durga Puja from Kolkata
3 years, 2 months ago

Here are some of this year's stunning Durga Puja from Kolkata

Op India  

Durga Puja, celebrated in West Bengal, mainly in the capital city Kolkata, is one of the largest and most opulent cultural events in the country. Here’s a look at some of the year’s most intriguing themes: Sreebhumi Sporting Club Durga Puja Sreebhumi Sporting Club in Kolkata has constructed a pandal that is a replica of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Earlier, we …

Durga Puja or Mamata Puja?
3 years, 2 months ago

Durga Puja or Mamata Puja?

India Today  

The Bengali intellectual or bhadralok, who once dreaded the prospect of a BJP assault on their cultural identity, are now cringing at the craven sycophancy Mamata Banerjee acolytes are displaying across West Bengal. The chief minister, her government’s policies and its various schemes are being exhibited across various Durga puja pandals, which attract teeming millions of pandal-hoppers during this festive …

Delhi allows gatherings for Ramleela, Durga Puja, bans Chhath Puja in public places
3 years, 2 months ago

Delhi allows gatherings for Ramleela, Durga Puja, bans Chhath Puja in public places

India Today  

The Delhi government on Wednesday relaxed the restriction on gatherings till November 15 in view of the upcoming festival season with strict compliance with Covid-19 rules. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority released a set of guidelines and said crowds will be allowed to take part in events related to festivals such as Ramleela celebrations and Durga Puja while adhering to …

Uncertainty over Bengal BJP’s Durga Puja celebrations after party’s poll debacle
3 years, 3 months ago

Uncertainty over Bengal BJP’s Durga Puja celebrations after party’s poll debacle

Hindustan Times  

Less than a month remains for the biggest festival in West Bengal, the Durga Puja celebrations, to take off, but uncertainty still looms over the fate of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s puja celebrations this year. Senior BJP leaders, including the then Union minster Babul Supriyo, party’s national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta were seen beating …

Mamata granting funds to puja committees to woo them: Bengal BJP to EC
3 years, 3 months ago

Mamata granting funds to puja committees to woo them: Bengal BJP to EC

India Today  

On Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party unit in Bengal wrote to the Election Commission citing violation of the Model Code of Conduct after the West Bengal government announced the continuation of Durga puja grant to organisers this year as well. The announcement was made by West Bengal Chief Secretary Hari Krishna Dwivedi and Banerjee stated that all facilities available last …

Kolkata Clubs Perplexed about Grand Durga Puja Celebration Amid Third Wave Fear
3 years, 4 months ago

Kolkata Clubs Perplexed about Grand Durga Puja Celebration Amid Third Wave Fear

News 18  

With the lurking fear of a possible third Covid wave, puja clubs in Kolkata are perplexed about celebrating the much-awaited Durga Puja in October. “In this Covid situation, clubs should pay 50% of the money raised for Durga Puja budget this year for Covid-related matters. There is no shortage of expensive pavilions, fancy pujas with celebrities, Last year too, due …

In Durga Puja speech, PM Modi talks Bengal history, women empowerment, Aatmanirbhar Bharat
4 years, 2 months ago

In Durga Puja speech, PM Modi talks Bengal history, women empowerment, Aatmanirbhar Bharat

India Today  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the Durga Puja celebrations in Bengal as he inaugurated a puja pandal in Kolkata via video conferencing today. There have been many who have come from Bengal and contributed in guiding the nation.” People of Bengal have made India proud, PM Modi said at Durga Puja event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes part in commencement …

WB Guv Dhankhar Hails HC Order to Ban Durga Puja Pandals for Visitors, Urges People to Follow Covid Norms
4 years, 2 months ago

WB Guv Dhankhar Hails HC Order to Ban Durga Puja Pandals for Visitors, Urges People to Follow Covid Norms

News 18  

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday hailed the Calcutta High Court order to declare all community Durga puja pandals as no entry zones for visitors and urged the people to enjoy the festival taking all COVID-19 safety precautions. Dhankhar tweeted “In view of Calcutta High Court order in public interest would have virtual participation in Durga Puja inaugurations. On …

No Durga Puja pandals in Delhi’s CR Park this year
4 years, 2 months ago

No Durga Puja pandals in Delhi’s CR Park this year

Live Mint  

No Durga Puja pandals will be allowed to set up in Delhi's CR Park due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the puja in the main temple will be held with the entry of around 50 people, AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Monday. "Most of the population of CR Park and members of puja committees are senior citizens and it …

Pandemic and Senior Citizens' Involvement in Mind, Delhi's CR Park Says No to Durga Puja Pandals
4 years, 2 months ago

Pandemic and Senior Citizens' Involvement in Mind, Delhi's CR Park Says No to Durga Puja Pandals

News 18  

New Delhi: No Durga Puja pandals will be allowed to set up in Delhi’s CR Park due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the puja in the main temple will be held with the entry of around 50 people, AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Monday. “Most of the population of CR Park and members of puja committees are senior citizens …

Delhi’s Durga Puja to go online; home delivery of prasad, COVID test for priests
4 years, 2 months ago

Delhi’s Durga Puja to go online; home delivery of prasad, COVID test for priests

Live Mint  

Online darshan, home delivery of prasad and COVID-19 test for priests and cooks are some of the unique measures that Durga Puja organisers in the national capital have come up with to safely host the festival in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. The Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Society, which organises one of the biggest Durga puja festival in Delhi, …

Durga Puja: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sends puja gifts to Mamata Banerjee
4 years, 2 months ago

Durga Puja: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sends puja gifts to Mamata Banerjee

Live Mint  

Ahead of Durga Puja this year, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent congratulatory gifts to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a government official said on Monday. Durga Puja guidelines here: 1) Spacious Open Pandals with Separate Entry-Exit: Pandals shall have to be spacious and should be kept open from all sides. To meet any exigency organisers shall make …

Durga Puja organisers need to spend 75% of ₹50,000 grant on COVID-19 equipment: Calcutta HC
4 years, 2 months ago

Durga Puja organisers need to spend 75% of ₹50,000 grant on COVID-19 equipment: Calcutta HC

Live Mint  

The Calcutta High Court on Friday said that Durga Puja organisers in West Bengal have to spend 75% of the state government's ₹50,000 grant for procuring coronavirus protection equipment. A division bench comprising justices Sanjib Banerjee and Arijit Banerjee directed that the grant provided by the Mamata Banerjee government to the Durga Puja committees cannot be used for any other …

PM Modi to hold a special address to people on Durga Puja on October 22
4 years, 2 months ago

PM Modi to hold a special address to people on Durga Puja on October 22

Op India  

In order to set the tone for Assembly elections in West Bengal slated to take place next year, the BJP will be organising a Durga Puja in Kolkata which will be inaugurated by none other than the Prime Minister himself on October 22 via a special webcast titled ‘Puja ki Baat’, as per reports. The Durga Puja which will be …

Calcutta HC to hear plea seeking curb on Durga Puja festivities amid pandemic
4 years, 2 months ago

Calcutta HC to hear plea seeking curb on Durga Puja festivities amid pandemic

India Today  

The Calcutta High Court has agreed to hear a petition requesting a curb on Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We have filed public interest litigation challenging the decision of the state government to permit the clubs to hold Durgotsav 2020,” the lawyer said, adding that the various guidelines issued by WHO, ICMR …

CM to inaugurate Durga Pujas virtually from October 15 to 17
4 years, 2 months ago

CM to inaugurate Durga Pujas virtually from October 15 to 17

The Hindu  

Ahead of the Durga Puja festival, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged people to exercise extreme caution for COVID-19 as she reiterated that community spread of the infection had begun in the State. The Chief Minister asked the puja committees not to allow people without masks inside the pandals, stay away from organising cultural programmes and take …

West Bengal govt issues Durga Puja 2020 guidelines, bars cultural programmes and carnivals
4 years, 2 months ago

West Bengal govt issues Durga Puja 2020 guidelines, bars cultural programmes and carnivals

India Today  

Durga Puja will be a restrained and staggered affair in West Bengal this year. In an attempt to curb the Covid-19 spread during Durga Puja, the West Bengal government has banned cultural programmes at puja pandals and has urged the organisers to stagger the festivities over additional days so that people can participate while maintaining social distancing. Here is a …

TMC Govt Trying to 'Bribe Hindus' in Bengal With Doles for Durga Puja Committees and Brahmins: Congress
4 years, 2 months ago

TMC Govt Trying to 'Bribe Hindus' in Bengal With Doles for Durga Puja Committees and Brahmins: Congress

News 18  

West Bengal Pradesh Congress committee president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Friday accused the TMC government of trying to "bribe" the Hindus by announcing doles for Durga Puja committees and Hindu Brahmins and claimed that it is desperate to project itself as a "bigger brand ofHindutva" than the BJP. Chowdhury, who is also the leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, said that …

Durga Pujo 2020: Politics and paranoia during pandemic
4 years, 3 months ago

Durga Pujo 2020: Politics and paranoia during pandemic

India Today  

A week from now, Trinamool MP from Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency Mimi Chakraborty will become Goddess Durga. Secular Kolkata’s shining example, Mohammad Ali Park Durga Pujo not only brings together people of divergent faiths, but has also made a mark over the years for its “theme pujos”. We will have to ensure that.” Subhasish Sengupta of Dum Dum Tarundal Pujo …

This Durga Puja, it's safety first
4 years, 3 months ago

This Durga Puja, it's safety first

India Today  

The goddess Durga is all about fighting and vanquishing the evil, and there are no prizes for guessing the villain of choice this year. The Gouri Bari puja committee’s idol, for instance, will not only sport a silver mask, but her many hands this year, each one gloved, will, instead of sporting her usual weapons of war, carry the weapons …

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