{
  "id": 13469281,
  "title": "West Bengal’s BJP government kicks off first Durga Puja celebration with mega event at Eden Gardens",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/west-bengals-bjp-government-kicks-off-first-durga-puja-celebration",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T16:45:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/west-bengals-bjp-government-kicks-off-first-durga-puja-celebration-with-mega-event-at-eden-gardens/article71568558.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Bharatiya Janata Party government in West Bengal inaugurated its first Durga Puja celebration at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Around 40,000 people attended the much-awaited event, marking the beginning of the festivities. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who attended along with his Council of Ministers, emphasized that all Durga Pujas would adhere to proper religious traditions, rejecting his predecessor Mamata Banerjee's actions. Adhikari stated that no Chief Minister has the authority to alter the dates of religious events on their own will. The government has organized 12,400 additional community Durga Pujas in the current year, compared to 45,000 under the previous administration. Adhikari also urged big Durga Pujas not to seek financial assistance from the State. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was initially expected to be present, but protests in Delhi led to his absence, along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The event, held at Eden Gardens, featured drone shows, performances by artists like Shantanu Moitra and Kaushiki Chakraborty, and was attended by West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi, State Ministers, actors, religious leaders, and artists, including exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin. Governor Ravi praised the new government's dedication to Maa Durga and expressed optimism about the future for the state.",
  "summary": "Chief Minister says Durga Pujas will now follow proper religious traditions, adding that 12,400 more community Durga Pujas are being organised in the State this year",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari Attends Mahalaya Celebrations At Eden Gardens; 12,400 New Durga Puja Committees Get Approval",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/west-bengal-cm-suvendu-adhikari-attends-mahalaya-celebrations-at-eden",
        "published": "2026-10-10T18:10:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}