Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja amid theme row, police friction
The 90th edition of Santosh Mitra Square’s Durga Puja, themed on “Operation Sindoor,” has drawn massive crowds since its inauguration by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday. The theme commemorates India’s cross-border strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam in April that killed 26 civilians. BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh, the general secretary of the puja committee, said the theme was meant to awaken patriotism and pay tribute to the armed forces. “Operation Sindoor is the voice of every Indian’s heart, showcasing our armed forces’ strength. Through this pandal, we wanted to pay tribute,” Ghosh said. But the festivities quickly sparked friction with police. Ghosh told reporters Saturday that “non-cooperation” from police may force organizers to close the puja. He alleged that roads had been blocked with barricades, civic volunteers were withheld and restrictions were imposed on sound systems and stalls. “They know there will be agitation and commotion. In such conditions it is not possible for us to continue puja,” Ghosh said, warning that if pressure continued, organizers could switch off the lights and cover the Durga idol’s face with black cloth. He even suggested the idol’s immersion might take place before schedule. The committee claimed it had secured permissions from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, PWD and police, and had already installed 30 to 35 of the 60 CCTVs required. But Ghosh alleged that the state government was “targeting” the festival, despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s repeated claim that “Utsav is for all.”
Amit Shah prays for ‘Sonar Bangla’ at Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja pandal inauguration
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Durga Puja pandal of Santosh Mitra Square in Kolkata today and extended his greetings to the people of West Bengal and the entire country on the occasion of Durga Puja. Addressing the gathering, Shah said he had offered prayers to Maa Durga at the pandal and sought her blessings for a new government in Bengal after the 2026 assembly elections—one that would restore the state’s lost glory of ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal). “I have prayed to Maa Durga that after this assembly election, there is a government which can make the state ‘Sonar Bangla,’” he said. Emphasising the vision of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, he added, “May Bengal once again become safe, prosperous, peaceful, and fertile.” The Home Minister also paid tribute to the late Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, the great educationist and social reformer whose contributions to education, women’s empowerment, and Bengali culture remain unparalleled. “On my own behalf, and on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party, I offer my respectful homage at the feet of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar,” he said. Shah expressed condolences for those who lost their lives during recent heavy rainfall in Bengal. At least 11 people died following torrential rain on September 23. “I pay homage to those who lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Bengal,” he said, extending sympathy to their families. Arriving in Kolkata on Thursday night, Shah was received at the airport by senior state BJP leader Rahul Sinha. On Friday, before inaugurating the Santosh Mitra Square pandal, he visited the famous Kalighat temple in south Kolkata to offer prayers to the Goddess. Later, he is scheduled to inaugurate the Durga Puja pandal of the BJP-backed Paschim Banga Sanskriti Mancha at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) in Salt Lake. Highlighting the global recognition of Bengali Durga Puja, Shah said, “This festival is not only celebrated in West Bengal or India but is also renowned across the world. For nine days, citizens of Bengal dedicate themselves to the worship of this divine energy, and these days are especially significant for the state.” Concluding his address, he expressed hope that the festival would usher in auspicious beginnings and contribute to Bengal’s development, in line with the broader vision of a thriving India envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
