Politics of change at the pandals
West Bengal’s first Durga Puja under the BJP government reflects a political shift, with changes in puja committee leadership, themes and a growing emphasis on religious traditions. Shiv Sahay Singh and Shrabana Chatterjee explore the festivities — from debates over food and cultural identity to restrictions on public spaces — to reveal how the new regime is reshaping the State’s political and…
On October 10 this year, the newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal organized its first major event to welcome Goddess Durga at Kolkata's Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium on the occasion of Mahalaya. This marked the start of the Durga Puja festivities, which have evolved over the decades despite political shifts.
The event symbolized both change and continuity, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari walking the illuminated two-kilometre stretch from Red Road to Eden Gardens alongside his cabinet ministers. The celebration featured art forms from across West Bengal, reflecting the growing emphasis on religious traditions under the BJP regime.
This first Durga Puja under the BJP government in West Bengal has sparked debates over food, cultural identity, and restrictions on public spaces, revealing how the new political regime is reshaping the state's political and cultural landscape.
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