Maha Ashtami Liquor Ban: BJP Changes Mamata Banerjee’s Durga Puja Rules in Bengal (X)
Kolkata: This time the style of Durga Puja in West Bengal will look different from previous years. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced several new rules after meeting with puja committees on Monday. On the day of Maha Ashtami, there will be a ban on sale of liquor and serving of liquor in bars in the entire state. Playing DJ will also not be allowed during puja and immersion. Apart from this, closure of national highways and major roads in the name of puja has also been banned. This is the first Durga Puja after the formation of BJP government in the state.
Suvendu Adhikari said that on the day of Maha Ashtami, when devotees worship and worship Goddess Durga, there will be no sale of liquor in the state. Along with keeping liquor shops closed, liquor will also not be served in bars. The government has linked it to the religious form and discipline of worship.
The government has decided to ban DJs in puja pandals as well as immersion processions. The official said that loud noise and large processions during puja should not cause any problem to the common people. There has also been a ban on the use of cranes to lift idols during immersion. The government says that with this the tradition of worship and religious sentiments will be taken care of.
The government has made it clear that in the name of organising puja, national highways or major roads will not be closed indefinitely. The Chief Minister said that the movement of common people should not be stopped due to puja. Even 14 roads of Kolkata will not be closed for puja. Organisers will have to take traffic into account while arranging processions and other events.
This time the rules for government assistance to puja committees have also been changed. Last year, the then Mamata Banerjee government had given assistance of Rs 1.10 lakh to each puja committee. Suvendu Adhikari said that puja committees with big budgets should not take government financial help. Assistance up to Rs 1 lakh was given to small committees for which it is difficult to conduct puja without government assistance.
The government has also given some relief to the puja committees. It has been announced that electricity charges will be waived off for pandals during puja. Fees for fire safety clearance will also not be charged. That is, on the one hand, the government has limited the scope of financial assistance, and on the other hand, it has given relief to the committees in some expenses related to the event.
The government has asked the puja committees not to show such things through pandals and themes, which may hurt religious sentiments or Sanatan traditions. However, theme based puja has not been completely banned. Organisers have only been asked to keep in mind religious and cultural sensitivity while choosing the theme.
It has been decided not to organise the Durga Puja carnival, which started during the time of Mamata Banerjee government, this year. Instead, there will be a big four-hour program on the occasion of Mahalaya in Eden Gardens. There will also be a show of drones and fireworks. The government also plans to organise cultural programs and road shows in different parts of the state.
This is the first Durga Puja after the change of government in West Bengal and through the new rules, the government has emphasised linking the festival with tradition, religious faith and administrative discipline. Decisions like ban on liquor, DJ ban, keeping roads open and changes in financial assistance to puja committees can also become issues of political debate in the coming days.
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