Durga Puja is just a fortnight away, but the festive fervour feels subdued this year. For Bengalis, Durga Puja is more than just a festival—it’s their identity, an indescribable emotion. However, this year, the City of Joy has been left in shock following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. As the city mourns one of its own, people are in a strange dilemma: should they celebrate Durga Puja or not?
On August 9, the body of a second-year postgraduate trainee doctor was discovered in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The forensic report revealed rape and murder.
Since then, Kolkata has been protesting against the crime.
Meanwhile, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee made a public plea to "return to festivities”. However, Kolkata has vowed to "only return to the festivities once justice is served”.
Actress Swastika Mukherjee, a vocal participant in the protests, emphasises the distinction between puja and utsob in a conversation with India Today. "Puja can be a personal act of devotion," she said, "but utsob is something we all celebrate together."
She added that people are not conflicted—they want to forgo celebrations in solidarity with the victim and her family.
“I don’t think anyone who has heard the victim’s parents speak, or seen them, could celebrate puja with the usual excitement and vigour. Every year, we look forward to what we’ll wear, where we’ll go pandal-hopping, what we’ll eat, and which friends are visiting. But this year, all that excitement feels lost. I’m sure people will still visit the pandals, but the spirit of celebration won’t be the same.”
Manik Das, secretary of Kabiraj Bagan Sarbojanin Durgotsob, Muchi Bazaar, Kolkata, reflects on the sombre atmosphere this year: “The pujor amej (vibe) is very different, and I anticipate the celebrations will be more subdued than usual. There’s also a sense that scattered unrest could emerge in some areas.”
Sona Chakraborty, former secretary of Rathkhola Sporting Club, which organises a prominent Durga Puja in Siliguri, North Bengal, expressed his disappointment, stating that despite such a heartbreaking incident, little has changed. “Of course, the puja fervour has been affected, but it’s shocking to see how, even after this tragedy, crimes against women haven’t stopped. Immediately after the incident, people were deeply shaken, but now they’re slowly returning to their normal routines.”
Every year, a state grant is offered to community clubs that organise Durga Puja across Bengal. It was increased to Rs 85,000 this year. However, as a mark of protest against RG Kar rape-murder, several Durga Puja committees across Bengal have decided to decline it.
Members of Shakti Sangh and Apanader Durga Puja, both committees located in Uttarpara in North Kolkata, are returning the state-government grant of Rs 85,000.
"I am deeply saddened and hurt by the way a woman doctor was brutalised in the hospital. Therefore, we have decided not to accept the amount of Rs 85,000 given by the state government for the puja," said Shubhranshu Dey of Apanader Durga Puja committee.
Prasanjit Ghosh of Shakti Sangh echoes Dey.
"We are deeply saddened by the brutal and barbaric incident that happened with the trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital. The puja this year will be done simply, without pomp and show. We do not want the grant given by the state government. This is completely the personal and apolitical stand of the club," Ghosh told India Today.
Mahajati Nagar Durga Utsab Committee, Netaji Nagar Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee and Madhyapara Abahani Club in Behala, Bhadrakali Bouthan Sangha in Hooghly, amongst several others, have also refused to take the state grant this year.
A 2019 report by the British Council of India estimates that the creative industries surrounding Durga Puja in West Bengal are worth Rs 32,377 crore (GBP 3.29 billion, USD 4.53 billion). This staggering figure is equivalent to the economy of several smaller nations around the globe. In just one week, Durga Puja contributes 2.58 per cent of the state’s GDP, and is the backbone of West Bengal's economy.
Kumortuli, the traditional potters' quarter in North Kolkata, is home to over 5,000 artisans and their families, who largely depend on idol-making for their livelihood. The income they earn during Durga Puja is vital for their survival, often sustaining them through the entire year. The dhakis, traditional drummers, also rely on this time for a significant portion of their earnings. Similarly, the lightmen, pandal makers, and those who set up food and game stalls—many livelihoods hinge on this one festival.
Kolkata-based content creator Priyam Ghose, whose video questioning whether people should celebrate Durga Puja amid such circumstances went viral, shares his thoughts with India Today.
“It’s not just about the dancing, the music, or people having fun. It’s also about the livelihoods of so many who are directly involved in making this festival happen. From those who set up the lights, to those who build the pandals, and even the dhakis, who are an integral part of the celebration. Then, of course, there are the artisans from Kumortuli who craft the idols. For many of these people, these five days are the most important of the year. The income they generate during Durga Puja often exceeds what they make during the rest of the year combined. So, the festival holds immense significance for them," said Priyam.
While some may be in a position to choose whether to celebrate, the content creator highlights the need to consider those whose livelihoods depend on the festival. “We should celebrate Durga Puja not just for ourselves, but for the thousands whose lives depend on it. At the end of the day, it’s a personal choice, but it’s important to consider all aspects of the festival, not just the issues being highlighted at the moment,” he adds.
With Mahalaya just a week away (October 2), Priyam Ghose acknowledges that the usual excitement isn’t quite there yet. “That’s a fact. But I believe that as we get closer to the date, the excitement will gradually build. While the energy isn't the same as in previous years, people are still looking forward to it. You simply can’t separate Durga Puja from a Bengali—it’s that deeply rooted in our culture,” he says.
Despite the challenges, he reminds us that Durga Puja remains a celebration of good triumphing over evil.
“We celebrate Durga Puja for a reason—it symbolises the triumph of good over evil. Durga herself is a powerful representation of female empowerment. This isn’t just any other puja; it holds immense significance. Especially at a time like this, it’s essential to celebrate Ma Durga because she embodies the very essence of good conquering evil. Right now, we’re out on the streets, protesting and making our voices heard, so that justice prevails. Durga’s arrival at this moment feels like the perfect alignment, a symbol of hope that good will ultimately win,” Priyam explains.
Adding to this, Swastika Mukherjee says, “Just because I’m not participating in the utsob doesn't mean I’m completely stepping away from Durga Puja. I don’t want the celebration to come to a halt—many livelihoods depend on it—but you won’t find me dressed up and dancing to the beats of the dhak this year. Everything that needs to happen for Puja will go on as usual. And while utsob can often be a metaphor for carefree revelry, I’m choosing to keep it low-key. I’ll offer anjali and enjoy the prasad, but as for all that dancing? Count me out.”
Samrat Banerjee, a member of the Durgotsab GK-2 puja committee in GK-2-CR Park, in Delhi, expressed his deep sorrow over the recent events in Kolkata but believes that festivals serve as essential pauses in our hectic lives. "Nothing I say, we say, or collectively discuss will ever justify what happened in Kolkata or, for that matter, what happens across India every 15 minutes. This is an evil we’ve been battling for years. But festivals in India—whether it’s Eid, Janmashtami, Durga Puja, or Christmas—act as a punctuation in our lives. They’re moments where we pause, recharge, and move forward,” explains Samrat.
He adds that halting festivities won’t be the solution. Instead, the way forward might be to incorporate awareness into these celebrations—engaging in conversations about what has happened and raising collective consciousness.
“Festivals like Durga Puja and Ganesh Chaturthi are about coming together in person. Durga Puja was once confined to the rajbaris (palatial estates), but figures like Swami Vivekananda and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose brought it out into the public sphere. These festivals were originally rooted in fostering community dialogue, and that’s the essence we need to remember," he adds.
While the outrage from recent events in Kolkata has echoed abroad, are expats celebrating the festival differently this year? India Today spoke to a resident of Leeds, UK, who shared how they are keeping ‘Abhaya’ in their thoughts.
Pranwayesha Paul, a UK-based data engineer, says, “There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly different this year, but there's a noticeable emptiness. We organise a puja here as well. In light of recent events, we collectively decided to leave an empty chair during our celebrations to honour the memory of the victim, symbolising that she is still with us in spirit.”
Pranwayesha is one of the founding members of a Facebook group called 13 Parbon Leeds, which was started as a cultural initiative. The group has now grown to 350 members, and each year during Durga Puja, they come together to organise special festivities. Many women and children participate, making it a much-anticipated event, especially for those who aren't otherwise engaged—many of whom have relocated with their husbands.
“This year, we asked the group if they still wanted to proceed with the cultural function given what has happened. People wanted to go ahead with the plan as scheduled because this is something they eagerly look forward to each year and the only thing that keeps them connected to their roots. While we’re moving forward with the programme, we are ensuring that we honour the victim in a meaningful way through a dedicated performance,” she adds.
Things aren’t much different in Houston, Texas.
“While people were seen protesting against what happened in Kolkata, and glimpses of the protest even reached Times Square, the Durga Puja celebrations are happening as planned. “We haven’t heard of any changes due to the incident, because as a community, everyone looks forward to this one week of revelry,” says Poulami Chakraborty, a Houston resident.
Much is being said about what the right thing to do is in this situation, but we all agree that the concept of right and wrong is subjective. Can the protests and Durga Puja not coexist this time? Perhaps the answer is yes, only if we don't forget 'Abhaya' while celebrating Durga.
