As dusk settles over Kolkata, the warm glow of countless lamps and the rhythmic beat of dhak drums awaken the city into a festival-fever. Every alley becomes a stage, every community hall a temple: this is the annual spectacle of Durga Puja in West Bengal, not just a religious gathering but a cultural phenomenon that pulses with identity, creativity and commerce.
In December 2021, UNESCO recognised “Durga Puja in Kolkata” as an element of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — affirming that this ten-day celebration is more than ritual, it is a living heritage.
Across West Bengal, more than 40,000 community Puja committees mobilise each year: the festival involves over 3,000 in Kolkata alone.
Economically, the festival is no small affair — stakeholders estimate transactions of at least ₹40,000 crore in 2022, generating employment for about three lakh people across the state.
On the governance side, the state government has boosted its support. By 2025, the grant for each registered Puja committee was raised to ₹1.10 lakh, covering nearly 45,000 committees and projecting expenditure of around ₹400-500 crore.
Thus, Durga Puja stands at a crossroads of heritage and polity: on one hand, a canvas of Bengali cultural artistry, on the other hand, a field where government, community, and commerce intertwine. The brilliance of the pandals and the devotion of the masses are matched by the weight of administrative responsibility and political calculus. In this interplay lies the story we must tell: of culture turned spectacle, of community joy mediated by state power, and of what it means to protect heritage while navigating governance in a vibrant, evolving democracy.
Cultural Heritage Dimension
Durga Puja is more than a religious festival in West Bengal — it is the heart of Bengali identity and one of the strongest symbols of India’s living heritage. In December 2021, UNESCO officially included “Durga Puja in Kolkata” in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This global recognition was not given for rituals or prayers alone, but for the way the festival unites art, community, and creativity. It celebrates not only the goddess but also the collective spirit of Bengal — a society where devotion and design blend into one shared performance.
Every year, as the month of Ashwin arrives, Kolkata transforms into a living museum of creativity. In the traditional potters’ quarters of Kumartuli, thousands of clay artisans sculpt the face of the goddess with delicate precision. These craftsmen, many of whom have inherited their skills through generations, begin their work months before the festival. Their artistry gives life to more than 40,000 idols across West Bengal — about 3,000 in Kolkata alone. This craft culture keeps alive a centuries-old tradition of clay work and ensures employment for nearly three lakh people during the festival season, according to The Indian Express (2022).
But Durga Puja is not limited to temples or elite spaces. It is a people’s festival — a “sarbojonin” celebration, meaning open to all. From neighbourhood committees in small towns to corporate-sponsored pandals in big cities, everyone participates. Over 45,000 community Puja committees are registered across the state, each competing to design grander themes and installations every year. Pandals are built like art galleries — some inspired by Egyptian temples, others by village huts or modern cityscapes. The artistic innovation of these pandals has made Kolkata an international cultural destination during the festival season.
Economically, the festival functions as a full-scale creative industry. The British Council’s 2019 report estimated that Durga Puja contributes around ₹32,000–40,000 crore to the state’s economy through tourism, retail, food, decoration, transport, and media. The report also noted that every rupee spent on Puja generates multiple streams of local income — from artisans and electricians to caterers and security staff. For ten days, Kolkata alone hosts millions of visitors, turning culture into livelihood. The state government estimates that around one lakh temporary jobs are created each year.
The cultural significance of Durga Puja also lies in its inclusive character. The goddess may be Hindu, but the hands that create her are often Muslim. In Kumartuli, many clay sculptors, drummers (dhakis), and light decorators belong to Muslim families who have worked for generations in Puja preparations. This shared labour between communities quietly keeps alive Bengal’s pluralistic spirit. It represents what UNESCO described as “a fine example of urban cultural fusion, where people from all backgrounds participate.”
However, this cultural heritage faces challenges. Over the years, increasing commercialisation and politicisation have started to blur the festival’s artistic purity. Large corporate sponsors and political parties often use the event for publicity, overshadowing smaller community celebrations. Critics argue that the focus has shifted from devotion to decoration. The risk is that heritage may slowly turn into spectacle — where beauty remains, but spirit fades.
On the positive side, the West Bengal government has taken active steps to preserve and promote the Puja’s heritage value. It provides financial assistance to Puja committees (about ₹1.10 lakh per committee in 2025) and funds safety, lighting, and infrastructure management. Cultural boards also organise exhibitions and training programs to support traditional artisans. These actions show an effort to balance celebration with conservation. Yet, questions of transparency and equal distribution of funds remain. Some cultural experts suggest that
Independent heritage bodies, not political offices, should oversee such initiatives to ensure artistic freedom and fairness.
In essence, Durga Puja is not just an event — it is a living archive of Bengal’s artistic, social, and spiritual life. It has evolved from home-based worship to a public cultural phenomenon that defines Bengal’s global image. From the clay of Kumartuli to the lights of Kolkata’s streets, every piece of this festival tells a story of identity, resilience, and creativity. Its true heritage lies not in the grandeur of the pandals but in the shared human effort — the hands that build the goddess, the hearts that celebrate her, and the communities that keep the tradition alive year after year.
Political and Governmental Dimensions
In West Bengal, Durga Puja is not only a season of devotion — it is also a season of politics. Every autumn, when the city glows with light and the sound of the dhak fills the air, another rhythm beats beneath it: the pulse of political theatre. The Goddess may stand on her lion, but the stage she reigns over often belongs to the state.
Government Involvement and Political Messaging
Over the last decade, the West Bengal government under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has turned Durga Puja into both a symbol of Bengali cultural pride and an instrument of soft politics. In 2011, soon after coming to power, her government began offering financial grants to community Puja committees. What started as ₹10,000 per Puja has grown nearly 45 times in just over a decade — reaching ₹1.10 lakh in 2025, according to India Today (September 2025). With around 45,000 committees eligible for this grant, the total cost to the state exchequer now crosses ₹400–500 crore annually.
Supporters of this policy argue that such financial assistance helps preserve Bengal’s heritage, boosts the local economy, and empowers small community committees that otherwise depend on private donations. Many artists, decorators, and electricians benefit from this government involvement, which also ensures safety regulations and better organisation.
But critics see another side: that this financial support is often politically motivated, aimed at maintaining goodwill among local clubs and Puja organisers who form strong social networks. Opposition leaders have accused the state of using public money to “buy cultural loyalty,” turning devotion into a form of political advertisement. Some have questioned the transparency of the grant distribution process, asking whether taxpayers should fund religious events at all in a secular state.
Religion, Politics, and Identity
Durga Puja’s political meaning goes beyond subsidies. It has become a space where Bengal’s identity politics plays out. The festival acts as a cultural response to the growing influence of Hindutva nationalism from northern India. In Bengal, Durga is celebrated as the mother of Bengal — a figure rooted in literature, art, and regional pride — rather than as a political weapon. Mamata Banerjee’s government often highlights this difference to protect Bengal’s image as a land of cultural harmony rather than communal polarisation.
During the 2021 state elections, even the BJP tried to appropriate the imagery of Durga, portraying her as a national Hindu icon, while the Trinamool Congress emphasised her as a symbol of Bengali Shakti, the strength of Bengal’s women and people. Thus, the Goddess became a metaphor for the political struggle itself — a divine reflection of human contest.
Governance Responsibilities
Beyond symbolism, the Durga Puja season poses one of the biggest governance challenges for the state. Kolkata alone records more than 40 lakh visitors per day during the festival week. The administration mobilises thousands of police officers for traffic control, security, and crowd management. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation works around the clock to ensure cleanliness, lighting, and emergency readiness.
The government also launches campaigns for eco-friendly idols made with natural clay and colours instead of plastic or toxic paints. This shift was supported by the National Green Tribunal and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board, especially after reports showed high levels of water pollution in the Hooghly River after idol immersion. To tackle this, the state now builds artificial immersion ponds in various zones of Kolkata to reduce river damage — an example of how faith and environmental duty must walk together.
Still, challenges remain. Waste management is weak, funding often leaks through bureaucracy, and crowd safety during peak hours can be chaotic. In 2023, several minor stampede-like incidents during large pandals raised questions about overcrowding and safety protocols. The state’s cultural pride sometimes outpaces its capacity to manage the scale of the event.
The Politics of Cultural Ownership
The deeper debate is about who truly “owns” Durga Puja — the people, the government, or the parties. When the state acts as both promoter and patron, the line between cultural preservation and political control blurs. Cultural scholars argue that the government’s role should be to facilitate, not dominate. Heritage, they say, must be protected through independent cultural boards or heritage councils that include artists, historians, and local representatives — not only political appointees.
Balancing Power and Devotion
Durga Puja reveals how deeply culture and politics are woven into Bengal’s fabric. On one hand, the government’s involvement sustains livelihoods, improves infrastructure, and protects an age-old art form. On the other hand, excessive politicisation risks hollowing out its spirit. When the state treats the Goddess as a political emblem, it forgets that she was born to destroy the demon of ego and arrogance — not to become part of it.
The responsibility of governance, therefore, is not just to fund celebration but to protect its soul. Bengal’s leaders must remember that Durga Puja is not merely a festival; it is a moral mirror. The lights of Kolkata will fade after a week, but how the government balances faith, culture, and power will decide whether this heritage glows brighter — or slowly turns into spectacle.
Pros and Cons: The Impact of Government Involvement in Durga Puja
Durga Puja in West Bengal is not only a festival of faith but also an instrument of cultural diplomacy, tourism, and local economy. The government’s deep involvement has undeniably transformed the scale and quality of the celebration — but it has also raised ethical and practical questions about the balance between governance and religious autonomy. Like every major public initiative, there are clear advantages and unavoidable drawbacks.
Advantages (Pros)
1. Cultural Preservation and Global Recognition
The active role of the West Bengal government has helped push Durga Puja from being a regional festival to a global cultural event. The state’s consistent lobbying and documentation efforts were instrumental in UNESCO’s 2021 inclusion of “Durga Puja in Kolkata” in its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. This recognition placed Bengal’s artistic and ritual tradition on the world stage, attracting international tourists and cultural researchers.
Through grants and logistical support, the government enables even small community committees to showcase creative pandals and traditional craftsmanship. This ensures that the art of idol-making, pandal design, and folk performance does not disappear under commercial pressure.
2. Economic Boost and Employment
According to the British Council’s 2019 report, the Durga Puja economy contributes between ₹32,000 and ₹40,000 crore to West Bengal’s GDP. The festival supports nearly 3 lakh workers — including artisans, electricians, carpenters, musicians, caterers, and security staff.
Government involvement in infrastructure, crowd management, and cultural promotion directly strengthens these employment chains. Tourism spikes during the Puja week: hotels, restaurants, and transport services see business increases of 60–70%, according to The Indian Express (2022). This injection of income sustains thousands of families and local small-scale industries.
The government’s financial assistance — now ₹1.10 lakh per registered Puja committee (2025) — helps community organisers cover essential costs like lighting, sound, and safety. For smaller local clubs, this support can be the difference between celebration and cancellation.
3. Public Safety, Administration, and Environmental Regulation
Durga Puja draws millions into the streets each evening, requiring massive administrative coordination. The state’s role in policing, sanitation, health, and disaster management is crucial. Kolkata Police deploys around 25,000 personnel during Puja week, ensuring smooth movement and security.
The West Bengal Pollution Control Board and Kolkata Municipal Corporation also promote eco-friendly idols made of natural clay and biodegradable paints. Artificial ponds have been set up across the city for immersion to prevent pollution in the Hooghly River. These measures reflect the government’s awareness of environmental responsibility — turning faith into a more sustainable practice.
4. Promotion of Secular and Inclusive Culture
While Durga Puja is a Hindu festival, it embodies Bengal’s pluralistic ethos. Muslim artisans in Kumartuli, Christian designers in Kolkata’s creative agencies, and secular volunteers in community committees work together each year. By officially supporting the Puja, the state reinforces inclusive cultural citizenship — showing that heritage can transcend religion and belong to all Bengalis, regardless of faith.
Disadvantages (Cons)
1. Politicisation of Religion
The most serious criticism of government involvement is the blending of politics with religion. Opposition parties often accuse the ruling Trinamool Congress of using public funds to gain goodwill from Puja committees, which act as influential social networks. Since these committees often display banners thanking political leaders, festivals can easily become vehicles of propaganda.
This politicisation risks dividing communities along party lines. It also questions India’s secular principle — whether the state should fund religious events at all when public resources are limited.
2. Unequal Distribution and Corruption Risks
Not all Puja committees benefit equally. Smaller or rural clubs often complain that funds and facilities flow more easily to large urban or politically connected groups. Allegations of favouritism in grant distribution have been frequent. Without independent oversight, such programs can create mistrust among organisers and erode the transparency that cultural governance demands.
3. Environmental and Logistical Strain
Despite eco-friendly campaigns, massive crowd gatherings lead to waste management problems, traffic jams, and pollution. In 2023 alone, Kolkata Municipal Corporation collected over 40,000 tonnes of garbage during Puja week. Many immersion sites still face chemical contamination due to leftover paints and materials. Overcrowded pandals sometimes cause safety hazards, stretching administrative limits.
The festival’s expansion demands not just celebration but smarter urban planning — something the government still struggles to maintain.
4. Cultural Commercialisation
When the government and corporations both invest heavily, the festival often shifts from a community experience to a public spectacle. High-budget pandals attract media attention, while traditional local pujas fade into the background. The risk is that the emotional and spiritual depth of Durga Puja — its reflection of collective devotion — is being replaced by competition for glamour and awards.
Cultural critics argue that the state’s over-involvement sometimes encourages spectacle over spirituality, turning heritage into a marketing showpiece rather than a lived tradition.
Conclusion: The Middle Path
Government involvement in Durga Puja is like the double-edged sword Durga herself wields — protective yet perilous. The state’s support preserves Bengal’s cultural pride, fuels its economy, and sustains thousands of livelihoods. But unchecked political and commercial interests can drain the spiritual essence that gives the festival its soul.
The answer lies in balanced governance — one that treats culture not as a political trophy but as a public trust. Independent heritage councils, transparent funding, and stronger environmental rules can ensure that the Goddess remains above politics, and the festival stays a true celebration of Bengal’s shared identity.
Durga Puja, at its heart, is not about power — it is about unity. The government’s responsibility is not to own that unity but to protect it.
Perfect, Samim — let’s raise the curtain on the final act.
Here comes the “Responsibilities of the Government: A Way Forward” — not as a sermon, but as a roadmap; not as poetry alone, but as policy with pulse.
This section ties everything together — balancing devotion, governance, and cultural dignity.
Responsibilities of the Government: A Way Forward
Durga Puja is not merely a festival.
It is West Bengal’s heartbeat — an orchestra of drums, lights, prayers, and people.
Yet behind every idol and illumination stands a silent question: how should the state serve faith without steering it?
In a democracy that breathes through diversity, the government’s duty is not to control culture but to curate its continuity — ethically, inclusively, and transparently.
1. Ensure Transparency and Fair Allocation
If the government chooses to fund Puja committees, the process must be transparent, accountable, and merit-based.
Public money demands public clarity. Every rupee given should be traceable — through digital disbursement, public databases, and community audits.
A Durga Puja Cultural Fund Board, independent from political offices, could be created to oversee financial grants and sponsorship approvals. Representation from artists, community leaders, economists, and environmental experts would ensure that allocations serve culture, not partisanship.
This would restore public trust — proving that the state’s intention is preservation, not patronage.
2. Strengthen Cultural Infrastructure
The government’s involvement should focus on long-term cultural infrastructure, not short-term political symbolism.
Instead of just financing annual festivities, the state can invest in:
Artisan Villages: permanent creative hubs in Kumartuli, Krishnanagar, and other districts to train new generations in idol-making, carpentry, lighting, and folk art.
Heritage Museums and Archives: to preserve traditional pandal art, old Puja photographs, and oral histories of community organisers.
Cultural Incubators: small grants and mentorship programs for rural artists, ensuring that the craft legacy flows beyond Kolkata’s glamour.
When the government builds capacity instead of spectacles, the cultural economy becomes self-sustaining — less dependent on seasonal funding and more rooted in craftsmanship.
3. Promote Environmentally Responsible Practices
Durga Puja can be both grand and green.
The government must lead by example — enforcing eco-friendly regulations not through penalties alone, but through incentives.
For instance:
Tax rebates for eco-friendly idols made of natural clay and non-toxic colours.
Green certification for pandals using solar lighting and recyclable materials. Support for artificial immersion ponds and waste segregation systems at all major sites.
The West Bengal Pollution Control Board should collaborate with NGOs and college volunteers for annual “Clean Puja, Green Puja” campaigns — turning environmental responsibility into a form of collective devotion.
4. De-Politicise the Festival
Faith and politics should never share the same podium.
Durga Puja is a people’s celebration — not a political billboard.
The government must adopt a non-partisan policy, ensuring that no political banners, symbols, or slogans appear in publicly funded Puja events.
Cultural grants should be distributed by an autonomous cultural commission, not political offices.
This separation will protect the sacredness of the festival and restore its true essence — the worship of the divine feminine, not the pursuit of power.
5. Empower Local Communities and Youth
The government’s greatest asset is not money — it is mobilisation.
Durga Puja offers a stage for civic participation: cleanliness drives, traffic management, first-aid camps, art exhibitions, and street plays.
By involving college students, NSS volunteers, and local NGOs, the state can transform the Puja into a civic festival of learning, social service, and community development.
Training programs on crowd management, sustainability, and event organisation will help youth channel their energy into purposeful engagement.
Let the next generation see Durga not just as a Goddess to be worshipped, but as a spirit to be embodied — in courage, discipline, and social responsibility.
6. Preserve Secular Harmony and Cultural Pluralism
The government must ensure that state support remains secular, respecting all communities.
While Durga Puja is a cultural cornerstone, similar encouragement should extend to other festivals — Eid, Christmas, Muharram processions, or Guru Nanak Jayanti — to reflect Bengal’s inclusive identity.
Cultural policy should promote interfaith collaboration, showcasing how diverse religious traditions coexist and contribute to Bengal’s composite heritage.
This is not mere tolerance — it is a shared celebration, the true rhythm of Bengali life.
7. Global Promotion and Soft Power Diplomacy
Durga Puja can be India’s soft power ambassador.
The government can collaborate with the Ministry of External Affairs, ICCR, and global cultural centres to host Durga Puja exhibitions, documentaries, and art showcases abroad.
Such initiatives would brand Bengal not just as a state of celebration, but as a living museum of cultural innovation and devotion.
Tourism boards can create “Puja Trails” — guiding international visitors through the artistic, economic, and historical dimensions of the festival.
The message: Bengal is not just celebrating a Goddess — it is celebrating civilisation itself.
Conclusion
Durga Puja is not merely a religious festival — it is Bengal’s living heartbeat, where faith and creativity embrace under the same sky. It has grown from a domestic ritual into a global cultural phenomenon, now recognised by UNESCO as an emblem of human artistry and shared identity. Yet, with its rising grandeur comes a rising responsibility — for the government, for communities, and for citizens alike.
When policy becomes poetry, and leadership becomes service, the spirit of Durga truly lives through governance.
The Goddess does not need the government’s favour — she needs its fairness. Let the state, like Durga, wield every weapon — wisdom, transparency, inclusivity, and sustainability — not for control, but for protection. Then, and only then, will Bengal’s festival of light remain the world’s most radiant mirror of faith and freedom.