West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday urged Durga Puja organisers to preserve the religious traditions and spiritual essence of the festival rather than engage in unhealthy competition, calling for a return to the warmth and community spirit that have traditionally characterised neighbourhood celebrations.
Inaugurating the Tala Prottoy Durga Puja in north Kolkata, Adhikari emphasised the importance of worshipping Goddess Durga in accordance with Sanatani traditions and maintaining the religious significance of the festival. He also recited hymns and shlokas dedicated to the goddess during the inauguration.
The chief minister said the state government, along with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, police and other agencies, was working to ensure that Durga Puja celebrations were conducted smoothly across West Bengal.
๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
Addressing the organisers of Tala Prottoy in the presence of local BJP MLA Ritesh Tewari, Adhikari cautioned against excessive competition among community Puja committees and urged them to retain the familiar atmosphere of neighbourhood celebrations.
"I commend the organisers to recreate a homely, neighbourhood atmosphere in this Puja," he said.
The chief minister stressed that religious devotion and traditional practices should remain central to the celebrations, even as Durga Puja continues to attract large crowds and elaborate artistic presentations.
He said organisers should avoid unhealthy rivalry and ensure that the festival remained rooted in its spiritual and cultural traditions.
๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐
Adhikari reiterated his appeal while inaugurating the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja, approximately 2 km from Tala Prottoy, where he called for adherence to shastriya parampara, or traditions prescribed by religious scriptures.
The programme was also attended by Kartik Maharaj, a monk associated with the Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Beldanga.
"Spiritualism and 'parampara' should guide us this Puja," Adhikari said, asserting that the BJP-led state government was committed to ensuring that the festival was celebrated in accordance with established religious traditions.
His remarks reflected an emphasis on the devotional aspects of Durga Puja, which combines religious rituals with community participation and cultural activities across Bengal.
The chief minister maintained that traditional observances should continue to guide organisers as they prepare for one of the state's largest annual festivals.
๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ
Adhikari also announced that a road would be named after Birendra Krishna Bhadra, whose iconic recital of Mahishasura Mardini has remained an integral part of Mahalaya celebrations for generations of Bengalis.
Accusing the previous Trinamool Congress and Left Front governments of failing to accord adequate recognition to Bhadra, the chief minister said his government would take steps to preserve the broadcaster's legacy.
Bhadra's distinctive voice and Sanskrit recitations have become inseparable from Mahalaya, which marks the end of Pitrupaksha and the beginning of Devipaksha, heralding the arrival of Goddess Durga.
The traditional radio presentation of Mahishasura Mardini continues to occupy a special place in Bengal's cultural memory, with families across generations associating the broadcast with the beginning of the festive season.
"Many governments came, but during our Mahalaya show at Eden Gardens, we gave due recognition to his family and descendants," Adhikari said.
He added that Bhadra's ancestral residence would also be renovated appropriately as part of efforts to honour his contribution to Bengal's cultural and religious heritage.
๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐๐ฟ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ ๐ฃ๐๐ท๐ฎ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ด๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ
The chief minister also inaugurated a Durga Puja celebration in the Kankurgachi area of Kolkata, where the idol was installed at a Saraswati and Kali temple established by Biswajit Sarkar.
Biswajit's brother, Abhijit Sarkar, was killed in violence following the declaration of the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election results. It has been alleged that the attackers were miscreants sheltered by the Trinamool Congress.
Adhikari's visit to the Kankurgachi Puja formed part of his engagements at community celebrations across north Kolkata.
Throughout the inaugurations, the chief minister emphasised religious observance, preservation of cultural heritage and cooperation among organisers and civic authorities, while urging Puja committees to maintain the neighbourhood character of the festival.