Bengal bans liquor on Maha Ashtami, ends Mamata-era Durga Puja carnival
· India · India Today, Hindustan Times, Times of India
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a complete ban on the sale of alcohol across the state on Maha Ashtami during this year's Durga Puja, ordering all liquor shops and bars to remain closed on the day devotees offer floral tributes to Goddess Durga. The restriction effectively puts Bengal's alcohol trade on hold for the festival's most religiously significant day, with Kolkata and other cities preparing for thousands of community Puja pandals. Alongside the prohibition, the state government unveiled a package of measures for Durga Puja, including a Rs 1 lakh grant for Puja committees, free electricity and a waiver of the fee for mandatory fire safety licences. Adhikari also urged organisers to ensure idols, pandals and themes do not distort religious or cultural traditions, while calling for orderly immersion processions. The announcement signals a clear policy break from the previous TMC government's approach, which had promoted Durga Puja as a major cultural car
Why it matters
The alcohol ban directly hits Bengal's liquor retailers, bars and hospitality businesses on one of the year's peak sales days, while the broader package marks a cultural shift away from the TMC-era framing of Durga Puja as a carnival and tourist attraction, resetting the festival's tone around religious tradition.
Read the original report — India Today
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