Durga Puja in Bengal emphasises family, hospitality, and celebration. In most parts of India, Navratri means fasting, vegetarian food, and avoiding ingredients such as onion and garlic. In Bengal, ...

Several Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata including a few patronised by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders until last year will forgo the ₹1 lakh festival-related state grant following an appeal made by ...

Mahalaya marks Durga Puja's beginning and Goddess Durga's arrival. Combined divine energy manifested Durga to defeat demon Mahishasura. Goddess Durga powerfully defeated Mahishasura, restoring cosmic ...

"I am a vegetarian Bengali," I told the priest. Seeing my devotion and chanting of mantras during Sandhi Puja on Maha Ashtami, the priest at the Mudiali Puja pandal in South Kolkata asked me, "Are you ...

Across five randomized trials in India, Kenya, Nepal, the Philippines and Uganda, weekly 20-minute mobile-phone-call tutorials produced large learning gains for primary-school children during school ...

Offering and consuming non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja has long been a tradition in West Bengal. Before it became a community event, or Sarbojanin, many Bonedi Bari (aristocratic households) ...

In a recent update, West Bengal has introduced some new rules for Durga Puja 2026. As per the latest announcements made by the West Bengal government at a coordination meeting with Durga Puja ...

All Durga Puja pandals and themes should reflect and conform to the festival’s original significance and traditions, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari told organisers at a meeting on Monday, announcing ...

West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Samik Bhattacharya on Monday reacted to Madhya Pradesh-based religious leader Bageshwar Baba's appeal for state residents to become vegetarians ...

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday (September 7, 2026) urged big budget community Durga Pujas to voluntarily forgo financial aid from the State government, while announcing a grant ...

A print advertisement for a BJP programme on the occasion of Durga Puja has sparked a massive row in West Bengal, providing much ammunition to the opposition Trinamool Congress. In face of Trinamool ...

NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday apologised over a government advertisement that showed Goddess Durga with 11 arms instead of the traditional 10, saying those ...