Rath Yatra 2026: Bengal Provides Financial Assistance To 60 Organising Committees

The West Bengal government has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for 60 Rath Yatra committees across the state ahead of the annual festival. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the support would be provided to committees that have been organising Rath Yatra celebrations for several decades, with the aim of helping preserve traditional festivities.

Addressing a meeting on Monday, Adhikari said the funds should be used for improving festival arrangements and renovating old chariots, particularly wooden ones. He said the initiative was part of the government’s effort to directly participate in cultural events and support long-standing religious traditions across Bengal.

The chief minister also criticised the approach of the previous government, saying its involvement was largely limited to providing traffic management support during the festival. He acknowledged that there could be gaps in the initial selection of committees receiving assistance and said corrections would be made in future years to create a more accurate list.

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As part of the preparations, the state government will establish service centres at traditional Rath Yatra fairs across Bengal. These centres, managed by the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, will provide basic facilities for devotees, including assistance from municipal bodies, district administrations, police personnel, and local festival committees.

The government has also announced special arrangements for Kanwar pilgrims during this year’s Shravan Mela. Adhikari said he would visit Tarakeswar on July 14 and that service centres would be established every five kilometres along the route from Sheoraphuli to Tarakeswar. Development work worth Rs 15 crore has also been planned for the improvement and beautification of Tarakeswar Dham.

Facilities at these centres will include police assistance camps, temporary medical facilities, drinking water, oral rehydration solution (ORS), and resting areas for pilgrims. Similar arrangements will be made near three important religious sites identified by the government — Jalpesh Temple in Jalpaiguri, a temple in the Jayanti area near the Bhutan border, and Tarakeswar. Adhikari also said rose petals would be showered from helicopters over Kanwar pilgrims every Monday during Shravan, subject to weather conditions.

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