Page 2 - Durga Puja

WB launches control room for uninterrupted power supply during Durga Puja

To ensure an uninterrupted power supply during the Durga Puja festival in the second week of October, the West Bengal government launched a 24x7 Puja control room and a dedicated WhatsApp service. The initiative was inaugurated by State Power Minister Aroop Biswas here on Thursday. The control room will operate throughout the festival period, extending until Jagaddhatri Puja in November second week. Citizens can contact the control room at the following numbers for WBSEDCL power: 8900793503 and 8900793504. For CESC customers, the control room can be reached at 98310 79666 or 98310 83700. The newly launched WhatsApp service, available at 8433719121, provides various features for customers, including bill information, bill viewing and downloading, payment options, new connection applications, quotation inquiries, power outage reporting, and energy-saving tips, Biswas said.

Navratri 2024: What are the nine forms of Maa Durga in Shardiya Navratri?

Shardiya Navratri also known as Maha Navratri holds a huge significance across India. This year, Shardiya Navratri will start on Oct 3 and end on Oct 12. It culminates on the 10th day with Dussehra

Jitiya Vrat 2024: Here's all you need to know about this auspicious day

Jitiya Vrat is observed every year on the Ashtami Tithi of Ashwin Krishna Paksha. On this day, mothers, especially from Bihar, Jharkhand and some parts of Uttar Pradesh, observe a stringent fast

Mahalaya 2024: Know its history, significance and when to celebrate

This year, the Mahalaya Amavasya falls on October 2, marking the ending of Pitru Paksha. On this day, people perform shraddh rituals and offer tarpan to ancestors for their blessings

Shardiya Navratri 2024: Check date, time, history, significance and more

Hindus celebrate Shardiya Navratri for nine days to mark Goddess Durga's hard-fought battle over demon Mahishashura. This year, the festival will start on October 3 and end on October 11

Fish Importers' Assn hails Bangladesh's decision to lift Hilsa export ban

The Fish Importers' Association on Sunday welcomed Bangladesh's interim government's decision to allow the export of over 3,000 tonnes of Hilsa to India during the upcoming Durga Puja festivities. The association said it was a "good and positive" response, which will satiate the taste buds of Bengalis during the festive season. "We expect the first consignment of Hilsa to arrive in markets in Kolkata and its neighbourhood via the Petrapole border by September 26," Association secretary Syed Anwar Maqsood told PTI here. "It's fine even if 500 of the 3,000 tonnes arrive in the first phase... let Hilsa lovers of West Bengal get a chance to savour their favourite Padma Hilsa from Bangladesh. We thank the interim government for understanding the situation following requests from India. Hilsa is sent every year during Durga Puja. We hope the export of Hilsa to India becomes a more regular affair in the coming days," he said. Maqsood, in a letter to Bangladesh's interim government on ...

Durga Puja celebrations at risk amid Kolkata protests and sponsorship cuts

Protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata are hitting West Bengal's Rs 50,000 crore Durga Puja economy, causing declines in consumer demand and corporate funding

Bangladesh interim govt urges pause in Durga Puja activities during namaz

All puja committees in Bangladesh have been instructed to switch off music five minutes before the azaan and keep it off during prayer time

What is Hilsa fish and its significance in West Bengal during Durga puja?

Hilsa plays a vital role in Bengali culture, where fishes are offered as a holy sacrifice to deities. From Durga Puja to Jamai Shoshti, this fish is considered very auspicious

Durga Puja preparations continue despite protests over medic's murder-rape

Amid ongoing demonstrations demanding justice for the murdered R G Kar hospital doctor, members of various committees have assured that preparations for the upcoming Durga Puja festival are going on in full swing. A section of people, disheartened by the arrest of only one person in connection with the rape-murder case, have been advocating for a boycott of Durga Puja celebrations this year. They argue that protests should persist until the victim receives true justice. Durga Puja festivities are set to kick-off from October 9. "Until we secure justice for our murdered sister at R G Kar hospital, our movement will persist," said Debalina Dey, an RJ, social media activist, and one of the prominent campaigners of the 'Women Reclaim the Night' initiative in Sodepur. "If this impacts Puja preparations and shopping, so be it. It's not the right time to discuss Durga Puja themes or pandals while we stand in solidarity with Abhaya (the symbolic name given to the woman doctor)," she ...

Protests take a bite out of retail, F&B businesses ahead of Durga Puja

West Bengal is home to 43,000 Durga Pujas, and the business around it is a major economic driver

DPCC prohibits idol immersion in Yamuna, water bodies ahead of festivals

The DPCC has prohibited the immersion of idols in the Yamuna and other water bodies and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on violators, ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Pooja celebrations. In an order issued by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on Wednesday, local civil bodies have been tasked with creating temporary immersion sites or artificial ponds near residential areas. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in 2019 and 2021 issued directives, prohibiting idol immersion in Ganga and its tributaries, specifying that violators will have to pay Rs 50,000 as environmental compensation. "The Delhi Police and municipal bodies will work together to enforce these guidelines and take action against illegal idol-making operations," the DPCC order stated. DPCC further directed the officials to monitor vehicles carrying prohibited idols. "Violators of the guidelines will face fines of up to Rs. 50,000, with continued non-compliance potentially resulting in penalties ran

As India prepares for festivals, insurers have celebrations covered

State support for Dahi Handi to Durga Puja prompts organisers to strengthen assets and participants

Chaitra Durga Ashtami 2024: All you need to know about 'Mahashtami'

Chaitra Ashtami or Mahashtami is an important Hindu tradition where devotees pray to Goddess Durga in her different forms. The devotees honor young girls as symbol of her divine energy

Chaitra Navratri 2024: When will it begin and the impact of Kharmas?

Chaitra Navratri 2024: It is an auspicious Hindu festival that will be celebrated on April 9 and will conclude on April 17. There is also a Kharmas shadow during the first five days, know more here

Behind the 'new' India

Persistent unemployment has forced people to reluctantly stick to farming

Bengal recorded Rs 85,000 cr biz during this Durga Puja: CM Mamata

Asserting that the recently-concluded Durga Puja was "peaceful", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the state witnessed business of over Rs 85,000 crore and employment generation for around 3 lakh people during the festivities. Referring to a survey by the British Council which stated that West Bengal recorded a business of Rs 72,000 crore during this year's Durga Puja, a seemingly happy Banerjee said she hoped that the business will grow in the coming years. "Durga Puja has reached a new height this year. In the coming years, we will organise it in a bigger way. A British Council research stated that this year, there was business of around Rs 72,000 crore but I believe that it will be around Rs 80,000 crore to Rs 85,000 crore. Over 3 lakh job opportunities were created, which is a big gain for the poor," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat. "Last time, some people moved the court because I had given some funds to clubs. I give money to th

Restaurants make Rs 1,100 cr as Kolkata splurges on food during Durga puja

During the just-concluded Durga puja festival, revellers of Kolkata not only spent hours and overwhelmed by the pandals, idols and overall decorations, besides thronging restaurants to satisfy their taste buds. The fine dining restaurants of the city made Rs 1,100 crore in six days culminating on Dashami', the last day of the festival, which is more than 20 per cent of the earnings in the same period last year, according to the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI). This is the second Durga puja after all curbs related to the Covid-19 pandemic were withdrawn. The buoyancy remained on all six days till Dashami as foodies were found till 3 am across eateries, said HRAEI President Sudesh Poddar Poddar, who is also the owner of a fine dining restaurant cum bar in Kolkata. "As per preliminary estimates, restaurants in the city did over Rs 1,100 crore business during the period," Poddar told PTI. A spokesperson of HRAEI said there has been a 20-25 per cent rise in sa

Kolkata Metro Schedule for today: More services amid Durga Puja Carnival

Kolkata Metro will start additional services on the North-South corridor amid the Durga Puja Carnival on Red Road in Kolkata. The metro services will continue till midnight on Friday

Majority of Durga Puja pandals in Patna violated pollution norms: Data

Majority of Durga Puja pandals in the state capital violated noise pollution norms during Dussehra festivities, according to data released by Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BPSCB). The noise level was measured higher than 75 decibels (dB) at 521 locations in Patna, the BSPCB data released late on Wednesday night said. As per Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, the noise level at market places between 6 am and 10 pm should be below 65 dB. However, a relaxation of 10 dB is given to allow the upper limit at 75d B for special occasions. "The BSPCB monitored noise pollution levels at 950 locations in Patna. Monitoring was done to measure the level of noise pollution before (October 12) and during the puja (October 21, 22 and 23). "While the noise level was found between 80 dB to 90 dB at 329 locations, the level was found between 90 dB to 100 dB at 163 locations in Patna. The noise level at 29 locations was measured at more than 100 dB.which is alarming", BSPCB .