India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has decided to prohibit the sale of alcohol in the state on Maha Ashtami of Durga Puja. According to the guidelines, liquor shops and bars must close their doors on this day, reports ANI.
Announcing general guidelines for the festival, CM Suvendu Adhikari said that sale of liquor will be banned on the day when people offer floral tributes to goddess Durga.
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announced guidelines prohibiting alcohol sales on Maha Ashtami, banning DJ music during immersion processions, and cancelling the Durga Puja carnival, while offering Rs 1 lakh financial aid and free electricity to eligible puja committees.
“On the day of Maha Ashtami, when we offer floral tributes to the goddess in this state, all liquor shops shall remain closed, including bars,” CM said.
The West Bengal government has come up with various guidelines for Durga Puja. The state government announced a financial aid of Rs 1 lakh to eligible puja committees. Moreover, the committee will get free electricity and a waiver on fees for mandatory fire safety licences.
No liquor sales on Maha Ashtami
The ban on liquor sales will be imposed in both liquor shops and bars across West Bengal. The decision is in line with the religious sentiment as Maha Ashtami is a significant day of Durga Puja, when people across the state offer floral tributes to goddess Durga.
With Kolkata and other parts of Bengal gearing up for grand celebrations of Durga Puja, thousands of puja committees are likely to organize cultural programs and immersion processions of the idols.
CM Suvendu Adhikari sought caution with puja committees while making idols and pandals and suggested avoiding any theme or design that can hurt religious sentiments and spoil the image of Bengal.
“While making the theme and design of the idols, pandals, committees must take care that it does not hurt religious sentiments and damage Bengal’s image. Theme-based Durga Puja has become a rage these days with lots of committees coming up with unique artistic idols which attract huge crowds,” CM said.
No DJ music during immersion procession
CM Suvendu Adhikari also said that DJ music will not be allowed during immersion processions. He also advised committees to conclude the immersion of idols before Lakshmi Puja, which will be held on October 25.
“The immersion of idols should be completed before Lakshmi Puja to avoid inconvenience to people. The immersion processions should be held in an organized manner so that the transition to Lakshmi Puja is smooth,” he added.
Rs 1 lakh grant for Puja committees
West Bengal government will give a grant of Rs 1 lakh to eligible puja committees. This decision was taken to support committees which face financial challenges while organizing Durga Puja.
Besides the cash grant, committees will get free electricity for the event, reports ANI. The representatives of CESC said that the power supply for the festival will be provided free of cost. Moreover, the state government has waived off the fees for mandatory fire safety licences.
However, CM Suvendu Adhikari appealed to large and prosperous committees not to seek government assistance and complete the puja on their own.
“Earlier, community pujas used to be held with contributions from members of the locality on a voluntary basis or ‘chanda’. Some committees have become so large that they need huge funds for their pujas,” he said. “Such committees can raise money through advertisements and other means instead of relying on the government grant of Rs 1 lakh.”
Bengal government scraps Durga Puja carnival
CM Suvendu Adhikari decided to cancel the Durga Puja carnival to be organized by the state government after the festival. The carnival was an annual event which was hosted on Red Road in Kolkata with the participation of big puja committees. The committees used to display their idols before their immersion processions commenced.
The carnival used to begin with the opening ceremony organized by the Chief Minister. It was started by the previous government of Mamata Banerjee and became an integral part of the Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata.
This year’s decision to cancel the carnival marks a major shift in the government’s policy in relation to post-Durga Puja events. However, the new guidelines will prioritize religious sentiments and crowd management and will prohibit the sale of liquor and DJ music. The guidelines will also offer a financial aid to puja committees.
