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Durga Puja in Kolkata

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Durga Puja in Kolkata
Durga Puja being celebrated in Bagbazar, Kolkata
CountryIndia
DomainsKolkata, West Bengal
Reference703
RegionAsia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription2021 (16th session)
ListRepresentative

Certificate : direct link

Durga Puja is an annual festival celebrated magnificently marking the worship of the Hindu mother goddess Durga.[1][2] This festival is the biggest festival in Kolkata, the capital of Indian state West Bengal.[3][4]

There were about 3,000 Barowari pujas in Kolkata in 2022. More than 200 pujas were organized in the city with a budget of over one crore rupees.[5]

Durga Puja in Kolkata has been inscribed on the list of 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity' by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - UNESCO in December 2021.[6]

History

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Beginning

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Durga Puja festivities by dancers and musicians in Calcutta, circa 1830s-40s

Since 1610, the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family has been organizing Durga Puja at their original residence in Barisha, Kolkata.[7] This is probably the oldest Durga Puja festival in Kolkata. Nabakrishna Dev started Durga Puja at Shobhabazar Rajbari in 1757.[8][9]

Durga puja theme based pandel in Kolkata
Durga puja pandel in Hatibagan, Kolkata
Durga puja pandel in New Alipore, Kolkata
Tallest durga puja idol in Kolkata pandel in Kalighat, Kolkata
Durga idol in a theme puja pandel in Barisha, Kolkata

Barowari Durga Puja began in Kolkata in the early part of the twentieth century. Barwari Durga Puja quickly became a common people's festival in Kolkata. Earlier, Durga Puja in Kolkata was confined to wealthy families. In 1910, the first Barowari Durga Puja in Kolkata was organized by "Bhowanipore Sanatan Dharmatsahini Sabha" at Balram Basu Ghat Road, Bhowanipore.[7]

Since 1985, the Asian Paints Authority has introduced the practice of awarding the Durga Puja Committees of Kolkata. This award is called the Asian Paints Sharad Shamman. Later many other commercial organizations introduced "Sharad Samman" or Durga Puja awards for Durga Puja in Kolkata.[10][11][12]

The Government of West Bengal introduced Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman in 2013.[13]

Expansion

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Reports in the Yugantar and Anandabazar Patrika provide a rough estimate of Sarbojanin (public) puja expenditure since the 1950s. In 1957, each community spent an average of ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 rupees at that time, the combined cost of the pujas was about ₹25 lakhs were; in 1984, that total increased to approximately ₹2 crores.[14]

A Times of India report of 2012 provided a statistic on the expenditure on Durga puja in Kolkata during that season. According to the report, a total of ₹123.05 crores was spent on 3,577 pujas in Kolkata.[15]

Durga puja carnival

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Durga Puja Carnival started in Kolkata in 2016.[16][17] The carnival was not organized in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic.[18] It was again organized from 2022.[13][18]

Recognition of UNESCO

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In 2019, Tapati Guha-Thakurta was entrusted with the task of preparing a dossier by the Indian Ministry of Culture. The dossier was submitted to UNESCO for the inclusion of Durga Puja in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Representatives from various countries around the world evaluated the dossier at the 16th session, which began in Paris on 13 December 2021. "Durga Puja in Kolkata" gets Intangible Cultural Heritage status on 15 December 2021.[5][19]

Puja: The Festival

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Dignitaries of Kolkata enjoying dance performance at Red road carnival

Durga Puja is mainly celebrated for 5 days - Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Vijaya Dashami. But the festive mood around Durga Puja in Kolkata starts before Shashti, mainly from Mahalaya. Durga Puja pandals are opened to the public from the day of Mahalaya. The main attractions of Durga Puja in Kolkata are the decorations, sculptures, pandals,[20] lights and illuminations, and carnival.[18]

Evolution of The Puja

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In the 17th century, from Pujas being organised by the zamindars in their rajbaris, today the festival has become an emblem of joy and unbounded enjoyment. Always considered as a symbol of homecoming, centered around the deity herself, in the present day the Puja has become synonymous with extravagant pandals, pandal hopping, incorporation of various themes and also witnessing a huge array of lights. It has become a way of seeing and situating ourselves in the world.[21]

Even till the 20th century also Kolkata's Durga Puja was primarily a religious and familial event, where different communities came together to worship her and partake in the age-old traditions associated with the festival. While the emotions, essence of devotion and community spirit still thrives, Durga Puja has undergone remarkable changes in terms of scale, style and cultural significance.[22]

The most remarkable changes in the recent times include the exponential proliferation in the number of pujas across the city, an emphasis on creative art and a overwhelming crowd of people visiting the pandals every year. The city has witnessed a surge in the number of theme-based pujas over the years. The themes range from various artistic ideas, cultural traditions, famous monuments around the world and even biographies of famous persons.[23]

While the centuries-old rajbari pujas with their Sabeki Protima and traditions are still popular, theme based pujas have risen in the present scenario and have become extremely popular, recording huge number of footfalls every year. Due to ginormous number of people visiting pandals every year and overcrowding on the main five days, pandals are inaugurated from Mahalaya, much before Shashti. The magnification in the cost of expenditure has also lead the budget to be shifted from only chandas to advertisements and certain extent of government funding. Despite this changes, people have whole heartedly welcomed the new pinch to their age-old tradition and this festival has also turned out to be a melting pot of people from different religions, who enjoy the festivities.[24][25]

Government Assistance

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In 2018, CM Mamata Banerjee announced that every year ₹10,000 will be given to 3000 puja committees in Kolkata and 25000 puja committees in the districts all over Bengal. The decision was opposed by the opposition parties. In response to a petition filed, the Calcutta High Court refused to interfere with the decision.[26] Later, the Supreme Court of India refused to put a stay order on the incentives but asked the government to keep a record of the grants given.[27]

In 2019, the amount was increased to ₹25,000 for each puja committee.[28] Over the years, the amount has been increased to ₹50,000 in 2020 and ₹60,000−70,000 in 2022.[29] In 2022, the total amount granted to all the pujas in that year alone stood at ₹258 crore.[30] In 2024, the government increased the amount to ₹85,000 for each puja committee.[31][32] The total amount was more than ₹365 crore for all the puja committees.[33] The costs would include a 75% concession in the electricity bill for the committees.[34]

Economy

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A study - Mapping the Creative Economy around the Durga Puja - has been commissioned by the British Council on behalf of the Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal. In 2021, the British Council in India mapped the creative economy of Durga Puja at ₹32,000 crores for the year 2019 and added that the festival contributed 2.58% of the GDP of West Bengal in financial year 2019–2020.[19][35] "Durga Puja in Kolkata" contributes to a large part of this creative economy.[19]

The economy of Durga Puja in Kolkata is divided into various sectors. Major among the various economic sectors are installation, art and decoration, Idol making, lighting and illumination, literature and publishing, sponsorship, advertising, retail, crafts and design (Puja Utensils), film and entertainment, and food and beverage.[19] In 2019, Kolkata accounts for 15% share of pandal-making (installation, art and decoration) industry of West Bengal, worth ₹129 crores.[19] Both the idol making industry and the lighting and lighting industry contributed ₹120 crores to Durga puja in Kolkata.[19] In 2022, the collective economy of Durga Puja was around ₹40,000 crore and it created employment opportunities for three lakh people.[36] By 2024, the economy stood around ₹50,000 crores.[37][38]

References

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  1. ^ "The Goddess Durga: The Mother of the Hindu Universe". www.learnreligions.com. Learn Religions. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Devi". www.worldhistory.org. World History. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Kolkata's biggest religious festival Durga Puja reframed as international art experience". The World from PRX. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Durga Puja 2022: City of Joy Kolkata gears up for biggest festival". Kolkata: www.hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  5. ^ a b Shiv Sahay Singh. "I-T notices to Durga Pujas even as festival seeks UNESCO status". Kolkata: www.thehindu.com. The Hindu. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  6. ^ "UNESCO – Durga Puja in Kolkata". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b "বাড়ি থেকে বারোয়ারি সফর" (in Bengali). Kolkata: www.eisamay.com. Eisamay. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  8. ^ Bangiya Sabarna Katha Kalishetra Kalikatah by Bhabani Roy Choudhury, (Bengali), Manna Publication. ISBN 81-87648-36-8
  9. ^ Sabarna Prithivi - website of the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family
  10. ^ "About Asian Paints Sharad Shamman". Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  11. ^ Commercialization of Durga Puja awards
  12. ^ Success for Asian Paints after the Sharad Shamman
  13. ^ a b Kinsuk Basu (4 October 2022). "99 pujas to join Red Road carnival on October 8". Kolkata: www.telegraphindia.com. The Telegraph India. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  14. ^ Guha-Thakurta, Tapati (2015). In the Name of the Goddess (First ed.). Delhi: Primus Books. p. 32. ISBN 978-93-84082-46-8. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  15. ^ Subhro Niyogi (27 October 2022). "At Rs 123cr, puja spend touches new high this year". Kolkata: timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Times of India. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Durga Puja 2016: Kolkata ends the mega bonanza with carnival road-show". Kolkata: www.indianexpress.com. The Indian Express. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  17. ^ "রাজ্য অভিনবত্বে-চমকে ঠাসা মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর পুজো শেষে ঠাকুর দেখা". www.sangbadpratidin.in. Sangbad Pratidin. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  18. ^ a b c "Red Road hosts grand Durga Puja carnival after two years, top artworks showcased". www.indianexpress.com. The Indian Express. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Shiv Sahay Singh (15 December 2021). "Durga Puja in Kolkata is now UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage". Kolkata: www.thehindu.com. The Hindu. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Durga Puja 2022: Kolkata turns pandal hoppers' paradise post pandemic". www.newindianexpress.com. New indian Express. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  21. ^ "How our consumption of Durga Puja has changed over the years".
  22. ^ "The Evolution of Durga Pujo: From Tradition to Trend in Kolkata".
  23. ^ "Durga Puja 2023".
  24. ^ "From Barir Pujo To Modern Pandals, This Is How West Bengal's Durga Puja Has Changed Over Years".
  25. ^ "Explore Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata that have transitioned from traditional to high-tech art installations".
  26. ^ Chatterjee, Debjani (12 October 2018). "Give Puja Grant But Explain Why, Supreme Court Tells Bengal Government". NDTV. Retrieved 19 September 2024. West Bengal government can give ₹ 10,000 to Durga Puja organizers in the state, said the Supreme Court
  27. ^ Mathur, Aneesha (13 October 2018). "SC refuses to stay WB govt's order to grant Rs 10,000 to Durga puja committees". India Today. New Delhi. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  28. ^ "WB govt to give Rs 25,000 to every community Durga Puja". Business Standard. Kolkata. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Grant to Durga Puja committees in Bengal increased to ₹70,000: Mamata Banerjee". Hindustan Times. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2024. The West Bengal government started with a ₹10,000 assistance to 28,000 puja committees in 2018, which was increased to ₹25,000 per committee in 2019. In 2020, the grant was doubled to ₹50,000 and increased by ₹10,000 in 2022 to ₹60,000.
  30. ^ Sankar Chattopadhyay, Suhrid (23 August 2022). "Mamata Banerjee announces Rs.258 crore grant to clubs for Durga Puja celebrations". Frontline Magazine. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  31. ^ Roy, Suryagni (24 July 2024). "Mamata Banerjee hikes allowance for Durga Puja committees to Rs 85,000 each". India Today. Kolkata. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  32. ^ চক্রবর্তী, দেবদীপ (23 July 2024). "ক্লাবের পুজোর অনুদান ৮৫ হাজার, আগামী বছর ১ লাখ, ঘোষণা মমতার". Ei Samay (in Bengali). Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  33. ^ Bhattacharya, Sayanta (23 July 2024). "Durga Puja 2024: এই বছরের দুর্গাপুজোয় রাজ্য সরকারের আনুমানিক কত খরচ হচ্ছে জানেন?". TV9 Bangla (in Bengali). Kolkata. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  34. ^ Mitra, Atri (25 July 2024). "Bengal government to spend more than Rs 350 crores as it hikes allowance to Durga Puja committees from Rs 70,000 to Rs 85,000 each". The Indian Express. Kolkata. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  35. ^ "Mapping the Creative Economy around the Durga Puja". www.britishcouncil.in. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  36. ^ "₹40,000 crore Durga Puja in West Bengal creates 3 lakh jobs, says Stakeholders". The Hindu. Kolkata. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2024. With more than 40,000 community pujas across the state, the festival creates a scurry of economic activities for three-four months every year
  37. ^ Mukherjee, Writankar (18 September 2024). "Dark clouds over Bengal's Durga Puja economy". Economic Times. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  38. ^ Singh, Rimjhim (18 September 2024). "Durga Puja celebrations at risk amid Kolkata protests and sponsorship cuts". Business Standard. New Delhi. Retrieved 19 September 2024. he ongoing protests in Kolkata, sparked by the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital, are posing a threat to the city's Durga Puja celebrations, which are integral to West Bengal's Rs 50,000 crore festive economy.
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