📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Biswarup Ganguly
Religion
West Bengal CM Calls on Durga Puja Organisers to Follow Sanatani Traditions
✍️ The New Indian Express
🗓 16 Oct 2026, 02:32 AM
👁 11
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged Durga Puja organisers to ensure rituals conform to traditional Sanatani practices ahead of the festival.
Kolkata, West Bengal – The state’s chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, appealed to the committees responsible for this year’s Durga Puja to adhere strictly to Sanatani traditions. In a statement released on Monday, she emphasized that the festival’s cultural and religious authenticity should be preserved, warning against practices that stray from orthodox Hindu customs.
Banerjee highlighted the importance of maintaining the sanctity of rituals such as the idol consecration, the dhunuchi dance, and the traditional bhog offerings. She urged organisers to consult scholars and priests well-versed in Sanatani rites to avoid any modern reinterpretations that could dilute the festival’s heritage.
The chief minister’s remarks come as several private puja committees have experimented with contemporary themes and staging. While the government has not mandated specific guidelines, Banerjee’s call signals a political push to keep the celebrations rooted in established religious norms.
State cultural officials are expected to liaise with puja committees in the coming weeks to provide guidance on compliance with the traditional framework. The statement underscores the administration’s broader effort to balance cultural innovation with reverence for age‑old customs.
Durga Puja, which draws millions of devotees and tourists to Kolkata each September‑October, remains a focal point of West Bengal’s identity, and the CM’s appeal reflects the sensitivity surrounding its observance.
Banerjee highlighted the importance of maintaining the sanctity of rituals such as the idol consecration, the dhunuchi dance, and the traditional bhog offerings. She urged organisers to consult scholars and priests well-versed in Sanatani rites to avoid any modern reinterpretations that could dilute the festival’s heritage.
The chief minister’s remarks come as several private puja committees have experimented with contemporary themes and staging. While the government has not mandated specific guidelines, Banerjee’s call signals a political push to keep the celebrations rooted in established religious norms.
State cultural officials are expected to liaise with puja committees in the coming weeks to provide guidance on compliance with the traditional framework. The statement underscores the administration’s broader effort to balance cultural innovation with reverence for age‑old customs.
Durga Puja, which draws millions of devotees and tourists to Kolkata each September‑October, remains a focal point of West Bengal’s identity, and the CM’s appeal reflects the sensitivity surrounding its observance.