West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a complete ban on liquor sales across the state on Maha Ashtami during this year's Durga Puja celebrations. The restriction will apply to liquor shops as well as bars, with alcohol sales prohibited throughout the day. The announcement was made as the state government outlined several measures for organising the festival. The government has also asked Puja committees to maintain religious traditions and ensure that celebrations do not hurt religious sentiments.

The Maha Ashtami restriction marks a significant change in the state's approach to liquor sales during Durga Puja. Adhikari said the decision was linked to the religious importance of the day, when devotees traditionally offer floral tributes to Goddess Durga. He made it clear that establishments selling alcohol would have to remain closed on Ashtami. The government is also seeking greater discipline during the festival, particularly around public celebrations, religious themes and immersion processions.

Alongside the liquor ban, Adhikari urged Puja committees to avoid themes, idols and decorations that could distort religious or cultural traditions. Theme-based Durga Puja celebrations have become an important part of Bengal's festive culture, particularly in Kolkata, where elaborate pandals attract large crowds. The Chief Minister said organisers should ensure that creative presentations do not compromise religious sentiments or Bengal's cultural heritage. He also called for immersion processions to be conducted in an orderly manner.

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The government has further announced that DJ music will not be permitted during idol immersion processions. Adhikari has urged Puja committees to complete the immersion of idols before Lakshmi Puja, which falls on October 25. The government will provide Rs 1 lakh to Puja committees that genuinely require financial assistance. Free electricity will also be provided for the festivities, while mandatory fire safety licences for Puja organisers will be issued without a fee.

Adhikari said financially strong and large-budget Puja committees should avoid seeking government grants if they are capable of arranging celebrations independently. He pointed to the traditional practice of collecting voluntary contributions, or chanda, to fund community Pujas. According to him, committees with substantial resources can raise money through advertisements and other sources instead of depending on government assistance. The Rs 1 lakh support, he said, is primarily intended for committees that genuinely need additional financial help.

In another major decision, the Bengal government has announced that the post-Puja carnival will no longer be held this year. The event, organised along Kolkata's Red Road, had become a prominent part of the city's Durga Puja celebrations and featured idols from leading Puja committees before immersion. The carnival was introduced during the tenure of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and grew into a major public spectacle. Its discontinuation, along with the liquor and DJ restrictions, signals a significant change in how the state plans to organise and regulate Durga Puja celebrations.

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