It is autumn in Bengal now, and the unmistakable beat of Durga Puja. The fragrance of shiuli blooms wafts through the air, dhaak beats ring out in narrow streets, and artisans put the finishing touches to idols. In the midst of this festive fervour, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will open a Durga Puja in West Bengal — a gesture that has both cultural warmth and political significance.
For Bengalis, Durga Puja is a festival, but not only that – it is a heartbeat. It’s the excitement of children parading in their new clothes, families switching from one dazzling pandal to another, and food stalls distributing hot rolls and plates of bhog. It’s also that moment when even strangers smile at each other, bound by the common spirit of festivity.
Shah’s visit this year is bringing a new dimension to the festival. Puja committees view it as validation of Bengal traditions at a national level. “For us, this is pride. To have a chief minister of such standing light the lamp and welcome Maa Durga is like our neighborhood Puja is now part of something larger,” said an organizer, making adjustments within a near-complete pandal.
But the political subtext is not difficult to detect. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, herself infamous for opening hundreds of Pujas herself, has long incorporated the festival into her persona. Shah’s action can be interpreted by many as the BJP’s effort to move into that same cultural ground before pivotal elections.
But for the masses on the street, politics takes a back seat. “It doesn’t matter who inaugurates the Puja,” said college student Riya, engrossed in planning her pandal-hopping itinerary. “For us, Puja means friends, food, and late-night giggles. That’s what we look forward to all year long.”
While the lights are run across the city and idols start to glimmer in their splendor, Amit Shah’s induction can set off headlines. But in Bengal streets, it is yet the conch shell sound, the beat of dhunuchi naach, and the enchantment of unity that characterize Durga Puja.
