Kolkata: West Bengal is set to witness a significantly different Durga Puja this year, with the state government introducing a series of restrictions and changes to the way the festival will be celebrated. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a complete ban on liquor sales on Maha Ashtami, prohibited DJ music during idol immersion processions and decided to discontinue the high-profile Durga Puja Carnival in Kolkata.

The announcements came during a coordination meeting with Durga Puja committees as the state prepares for its first Durga Puja under a BJP government. The new administration has also announced financial assistance for eligible Puja committees, free electricity during the festivities and a waiver of fees for mandatory fire safety licences.

The measures collectively signal a shift in the government's approach to Bengal's biggest festival, with greater emphasis being placed on religious traditions, crowd management, orderly celebrations and assistance to smaller Puja committees.

First-Ever Maha Ashtami Liquor Ban in Bengal

The most significant announcement concerns alcohol sales on Maha Ashtami, one of the most important days of Durga Puja.

All liquor shops across West Bengal will remain closed on Maha Ashtami, while bars and establishments serving alcohol will also be prohibited from selling or serving liquor on the day. This marks the first time that a Bengal government has announced a complete liquor ban specifically for a day during Durga Puja.

Maha Ashtami will be observed on October 19, 2026, and is traditionally associated with intense devotional activity, including offering anjali or floral tributes to Goddess Durga.

Adhikari said the decision was intended to preserve the religious character of the occasion. With alcohol shops generally remaining open during much of the Puja period and remaining closed on Dashami, the new order will create an additional dry day during the festival.

The decision is therefore expected to be particularly noticeable this year, as liquor sales have traditionally continued during several days of the Durga Puja celebrations.

No DJ Music During Idol Immersion

The state government has also imposed restrictions on music during idol immersion processions.

DJ music will not be permitted during the visarjan or immersion processions. The administration has urged Puja committees to ensure that immersion-related activities remain peaceful and orderly.

The government has further asked organisers to complete idol immersions by October 24, a day before Lakshmi Puja, which falls on October 25 this year.

The move is aimed at ensuring that the immersion process does not overlap with the next major festival and that roads and public spaces are not subjected to prolonged disruption during the festive period.

The administration has also indicated that the use of cranes during Puja or immersion activities will not be allowed under the new guidelines.

Durga Puja Carnival Scrapped

Another major change is the decision to discontinue Kolkata's much-publicised Durga Puja Carnival.

The event, traditionally held on Red Road after the main Puja celebrations, had become a prominent attraction in Kolkata's festive calendar. Idols from some of the city's leading Puja committees were showcased in a grand procession before being taken for immersion in the Hooghly River.

The carnival was introduced during Mamata Banerjee's tenure and had grown into a large-scale cultural spectacle attended by political leaders, celebrities and thousands of spectators. It was also televised, giving the event visibility well beyond Bengal.

Its cancellation represents one of the clearest departures from the previous administration's approach to Durga Puja.

The carnival had received appreciation for showcasing Bengal's artistic and cultural traditions, but it had also faced criticism over the years. The controversy became particularly sharp last year when North Bengal was dealing with severe floods while the carnival was being held in Kolkata, providing political ammunition to the BJP.

The new government has now chosen to discontinue the event altogether.

No Puja Inaugurations Before Mahalaya

The administration has also sought to restore what it describes as the traditional character of Durga Puja.

Puja committees will not be permitted to inaugurate their celebrations before Mahalaya. The government has asked organisers to respect the traditional beginning of the festive period and avoid starting celebrations prematurely.

This comes against the backdrop of Kolkata's increasingly competitive theme-based Puja culture, where committees often unveil elaborate pandals, artistic installations and conceptual themes days ahead of the traditional festival period.

Adhikari has urged organisers to ensure that experimentation does not undermine religious traditions.

Warning Over Idols, Pandals and Themes

The Chief Minister has appealed to Puja committees to ensure that their idols, pandals, themes and decorations do not hurt religious sentiments or undermine Bengal's cultural heritage.

Theme-based Durga Puja has become one of Kolkata's biggest cultural attractions, with committees frequently experimenting with architecture, social themes, contemporary art and unconventional interpretations.

While the government has not prohibited such creativity, the new guidelines call for organisers to exercise restraint and ensure that their designs respect religious traditions.

The administration has also stressed the need for peaceful celebrations and orderly immersion processions.

₹1 Lakh Grant for Puja Committees

Alongside the restrictions, the West Bengal government has announced financial support for community Durga Puja organisers.

Eligible Puja committees will receive a ₹1 lakh grant. The government will also provide electricity free of cost during the festivities and waive fees for mandatory fire safety licences.

The financial assistance is primarily intended for committees that require support to organise their celebrations.

However, Adhikari has appealed to affluent and large-budget Puja committees not to claim the government grant if they can independently finance their celebrations.

The Chief Minister pointed to the traditional practice of collecting voluntary contributions, commonly known as chanda, to fund community Pujas. He suggested that financially stronger committees could instead raise money through advertisements and other means.

The grant is broadly similar to the financial assistance provided to Puja committees under the previous government. Last year, committees had reportedly received ₹1.10 lakh each, making this year's ₹1 lakh assistance slightly lower.

Free Electricity and Fire Safety Fee Waiver

The government has also announced additional concessions for Puja organisers.

Electricity will be provided free of charge for the celebrations, while fees associated with mandatory fire safety licences will be waived.

These measures are expected to reduce the financial burden on community Puja committees, particularly smaller organisers that may struggle with the rising cost of conducting large public celebrations.

The Chief Minister has, however, maintained that committees with substantial financial resources should not become dependent on government assistance.

Grand Mahalaya Event at Eden Gardens

While the administration has cancelled the post-Puja carnival, it is planning a major programme to mark the beginning of the festive season.

A large cultural event will be organised at Eden Gardens on Mahalaya. The programme is expected to feature cultural performances, fireworks and drone shows, along with other festivities.

A separate special programme is also planned at Digha after Mahalaya, while cultural programmes are expected to be held across six cities over two days.

The Eden Gardens event is being positioned as a major state-sponsored celebration marking the start of Durga Puja. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to attend the programme.

Roads and Immersion Processions Under Closer Watch

The government has also asked Puja committees not to unnecessarily block roads or national highways in the name of organising celebrations.

With Durga Puja drawing massive crowds across Kolkata and other parts of Bengal, traffic management and crowd control remain important concerns. The administration wants organisers to ensure that public infrastructure remains accessible even during peak festive activity.

The direction to complete idol immersions before Lakshmi Puja is part of the same effort to prevent prolonged disruption.

Organisers have also been told that they will not have to approach courts for permission to conduct their Pujas, according to the government's announcement.

Bengal's First Durga Puja Under BJP Government

The new rules assume added political significance because this will be the first Durga Puja in West Bengal under a BJP government after decades of Left and Trinamool Congress rule.

The Left Front governed Bengal for 34 years, followed by 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule. The change in government has therefore brought heightened attention to how the new administration will handle the state's most important cultural festival.

The restrictions on liquor, DJ music and the carnival, combined with the emphasis on religious traditions and changes in government support, are likely to make the 2026 celebrations noticeably different from previous years.

At the same time, the government is balancing restrictions with large-scale public celebrations and financial assistance. The Mahalaya programme at Eden Gardens, free electricity, Puja grants and fire safety fee waivers indicate that the administration is not seeking to reduce the scale of the festival, but rather to change how it is regulated and presented.

For millions of devotees across West Bengal, the immediate practical changes are clear: Maha Ashtami will be a dry day, DJ music will be absent from immersion processions, idols are expected to be immersed before October 25, and Kolkata's traditional post-Puja carnival on Red Road will not take place.

With Durga Puja only weeks away, these decisions have already set the tone for what promises to be a markedly different festive season in Bengal.

With input from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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