West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a new set of rules for Durga Puja 2026, marking the first major festival under the BJP government and signalling a shift towards what the administration calls a more disciplined and traditional celebration.
At a coordination meeting with Puja committees at Milan Mela Prangan in Kolkata on September 7, Adhikari announced a statewide ban on the sale of liquor on Maha Ashtami, prohibited DJ music during Puja celebrations and immersion processions, scrapped the post-Puja carnival on Red Road and barred Puja organisers from blocking national highways and 13 major roads in Kolkata.
The government will continue financial assistance of up to ₹1 lakh for smaller and financially weaker Puja committees, while financially capable committees have been asked to forgo the grant. Adhikari also said theme-based Pujas would be allowed but warned organisers against themes, idols or pandals that could hurt religious sentiments or undermine Sanatan traditions.
The government says the measures were finalised after discussions with stakeholders and are aimed at ensuring a safe, orderly and culturally respectful festival. At the same time, the Opposition has questioned the government’s handling of Bengal’s cultural traditions, particularly after an official advertisement released on the same day depicted Goddess Durga with 11 arms instead of the traditional 10, prompting Adhikari to publicly apologise.
A Different Kind Of Puja
The most immediate change for devotees and businesses will be the decision to make Maha Ashtami a dry day across West Bengal. Adhikari said all liquor shops and bars will remain closed and that “no liquor will be sold anywhere” on the day devotees offer Maha Ashtami anjali.
The decision is particularly significant because excise records cited by The Indian Express show that Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami traditionally generate some of the state’s highest liquor revenues. The administration has also banned DJ music during Puja celebrations and immersion processions, while insisting that the festival should retain its religious and cultural character.
Adhikari said the government would not permit national highways to be blocked for Puja-related activities and identified 13 major Kolkata roads, including Red Road and Cathedral Road, that cannot be closed.
Pandal inaugurations will also not be permitted before Matripaksha or Devipaksha, while idol immersion is to be completed by the day before Kojagari Lakshmi Puja. The Chief Minister said these should not be viewed simply as “strict restrictions”, arguing that they followed consultations with stakeholders.
The government has simultaneously announced measures intended to support organisers. Every Puja pandal will receive free electricity during the festival, while committees will be able to obtain fire-safety and electricity permissions without charges.
The government will retain assistance of up to ₹1 lakh for smaller committees, but Adhikari said financially stronger and large-budget Pujas should not use public funds. “The government will stand by those Puja committees for which it would be difficult to organise the Puja without government funds,” he said.
A Puja organiser, Manoj Kumar Shaw of Mudiali Club, welcomed the decision to focus grants on smaller committees and said his committee was also satisfied with the free-electricity announcement. Dr Saptarshi Basu, general secretary of Ballygunge Cultural Puja Committee, welcomed the ban on cranes being used to retrieve idols after immersion, saying it was inappropriate to handle the idol that way after worshipping Goddess Durga during the festival.
Red Road Carnival Scrapped
One of the most visible departures from the previous administration is the decision to discontinue Kolkata’s Red Road Durga Puja Carnival. Introduced under the Mamata Banerjee government in 2016-17, the event brought selected Puja committees and their idols onto Red Road in a large post-Puja procession, combining religious imagery, cultural performances and public spectacle.
Adhikari criticised the event as something that had been “imposed” in recent years and said, “This year, we will not do that.” Instead, the BJP government plans to begin the festival with a major programme at Eden Gardens on Mahalaya, featuring cultural performances, visual effects, fireworks and a large drone show.
The government also plans Durga Puja-themed roadshows, programmes in six cities, decoration of four Ganga ghats and special arrangements for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be invited to the Mahalaya event.
The government’s emphasis on religious representation also comes against the backdrop of a recent appeal by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). On August 26, VHP functionary Saikat Roy urged Puja committees to preserve the “sattvik” character of Kolkata’s Durga Puja and follow Hindu scriptures and Sanatani traditions while presenting idols and decorations.
While there is no evidence that the government formally adopted the VHP’s recommendations, the two positions overlap in their emphasis on religious dignity and avoiding representations considered disrespectful to Hindu traditions. Adhikari has clarified that theme-based Pujas will still be allowed, but organisers must exercise caution when selecting themes.
The government’s own messaging, however, faced an immediate test on the same day. A newspaper advertisement issued by the Information and Cultural Affairs Department showed Goddess Durga with 11 arms rather than the traditional 10.
The image drew criticism from the Trinamool Congress and Left leaders, who accused the BJP government of mishandling Bengal’s cultural and religious traditions. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh criticised the depiction on social media, while CPI(M) leader Satarup Ghosh also mocked the error.
BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya attributed it to an agency error and said the matter should not be politicised. Adhikari apologised “in my capacity as the Chief Minister” and said the department responsible had been cautioned against repeating such mistakes.
Experts On Balancing Tradition And Freedom
Experts say Durga Puja has evolved beyond a purely religious celebration, becoming an important part of Bengal’s cultural identity, artistic expression and community life. While measures aimed at maintaining public safety, controlling noise and respecting religious sentiments can be constructive, they believe such regulations should be implemented through dialogue with Puja committees and local communities.
Any restrictions on themes, music or public celebrations, they argue, should be clearly defined and applied consistently to avoid creating uncertainty or unnecessarily limiting creative expression. The broader challenge, they suggest, is to preserve the festival’s traditional character while allowing its long-standing culture of art, inclusivity and community participation to flourish.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Durga Puja is far more than a religious festival in Bengal. It is a shared cultural space where devotion, art, music, community participation and creativity have evolved together over generations. The government’s effort to make celebrations safer, reduce disruption and ensure that smaller Puja committees receive support is understandable.
At the same time, questions around artistic freedom, religious sensitivity and the role of the state in defining cultural expression deserve an open and respectful conversation. A festival as diverse as Durga Puja should be able to accommodate tradition as well as creativity, provided neither comes at the cost of dignity, public safety or communal harmony.
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