Politics over Durga Puja picks up in West Bengal

By Admin

22 Sep, 2025

As the much-awaited Durga Puja festivities begin across West Bengal, the cultural celebration has also become a political battleground. With Mahalaya being observed on Sunday (September 21, 2025), the invocation of Goddess Durga marked the formal start of the festive season. But alongside the joy and grandeur of the festival, political barbs and symbolism have taken centre stage.

Mamata Banerjee’s festive push

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee kicked off the celebrations early, inaugurating Durga Pujas from Saturday (September 20). On Sunday, she launched the Jaago Bangla Utsav Edition and the music album Durga Angon, featuring songs penned and composed by her. Jaago Bangla, the official mouthpiece of the Trinamool Congress, has become a platform through which the CM connects with people during the festival season.

Accompanied by her nephew and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, she announced that the State government has extended a grant of ₹1.10 lakh to every Durga Puja committee across West Bengal. Highlighting the recognition of Kolkata’s Durga Puja as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, Mr. Banerjee took a jab at political opponents, reminding them that “a few years ago some people ridiculed us saying Durga Pujas were not held in Bengal.”

The Chief Minister also raised the sensitive issue of migrant workers. “I do not agree with the idea that if you speak Bengali, you have to be tortured. Many of my workers here work outside. About 22 lakh workers from Bengal work in other States. However, 1.5 crore people come here from outside and work,” she said while inaugurating a puja pandal. The targeting of migrant workers has been a recurring political flashpoint, and Mamata Banerjee is using the Puja platform to strengthen her outreach on the issue.

BJP’s criticism and Suvendu Adhikari’s attack

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari launched a sharp attack on the Chief Minister for inaugurating pujas before Mahalaya. He accused her of “sabotaging age-old Hindu rituals and sentiments just to pander to her narrow vote-bank politics.” According to him, the period of Pitru Paksha is meant for solemn remembrance and restraint, and festivities before Mahalaya invite inauspiciousness.

“This is not ignorance; this is calculated malice. Our scriptures and traditions are clear: no new beginnings during this phase. Mahalaya marks the true invocation of Maa Durga,” Mr. Adhikari stressed.

The Chief Minister, however, defended her actions, clarifying that she was inaugurating only the puja mandaps and not unveiling the Goddess’s idol. “I will inaugurate the mother idol from the day of Mahalaya,” she reiterated.

On the same day, Suvendu Adhikari attended an event at Nandigram in honour of martyrs of the anti-land acquisition movement, reminding people of Mamata Banerjee’s 2021 defeat in the constituency. Several BJP leaders also performed tarpan rituals to honour workers allegedly killed in political violence.

Prime Minister’s message and the GST angle

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also marked Mahalaya by extending greetings in Bengali. “May Mother Durga’s blessings bring steadfast strength, boundless joy, and good health to all our lives,” he said in his message.

Interestingly, politics around GST also made its way into the festive discourse. After Mr. Modi highlighted GST rate cuts in his address, Mamata Banerjee responded, reminding that she had been the first to write to the Prime Minister demanding GST removal from health and life insurance. “The credit lies with the State, not those giving speeches now,” she remarked.

Pujas as a prelude to 2026 polls

With Assembly elections due in West Bengal in 2026, Durga Puja has clearly emerged as more than just a cultural festival it is now a stage for political narratives. The BJP is gearing up to bring in senior leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to inaugurate an “Operation Sindoor”-themed puja in Kolkata, signaling its intent to intensify campaign efforts.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has set an ambitious target of inaugurating 3,000 pujas this season, further underlining the importance of blending cultural outreach with political messaging.

As Bengal celebrates its biggest festival, the colours of Durga Puja this year are deeply infused with the hues of politics, setting the tone for a heated political season ahead.