Durga Puja

Kolkata stampede: Two held for making 'pandal collapsing' announcements

The treasurer of the Chorbagan Durga Puja was arrested for allegedly misleading revellers by announcing that a section of the pandal was collapsing, which appeared to have triggered panic among them and led to the stampede that claimed the lives of 19 people last week, police said on Friday. Sanjib Raha, alias Sentu, was initially detained from a hideout in Nadia district on Thursday and later arrested, a senior officer said. "There were two persons who were making announcements at the Chorbagan Durga Puja. He was one of them. He had been absconding since the incident occurred in the evening of October 17. We initially detained him in Nadia and then arrested him after hours of questioning," he said. At least 19 people died, and 25 others were injured in the stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata following a crowd surge amid rain. The two persons, who had been making announcements at the puja pandal on the Maha Saptami day, were identified via CCTV footage, the

Datanomics: Elderly most vulnerable to stampedes, account for 29% of deaths

The elderly accounted for 28% of stampede deaths in India over the past decade, making them the most vulnerable, while religious gatherings remained a major cause of such incidents.

Kolkata Durga Puja stampede: 7 arrested; safety panel reviews pandals

Police on Sunday produced before a local court the seven arrested persons in connection with the stampede at a Kolkata Durga Puja pandal, which resulted in the death of 19 people, a senior official said. Twenty-five people were also injured in the stampede at Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata, following a crowd surge amid rain on Saturday evening. "The arrested persons have been taken to Bankshall court. We would appeal for their custody," the official told PTI. Those arrested include the puja committee's secretary, vice-president and two employees of a private security agency. Police have also registered a suo motu case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the case.

Rain, narrow exits, false alert: What led to Kolkata Puja pandal stampede?

Police say inadequate crowd control, narrow entry and exit gates and a misleading announcement may have triggered panic at the Chorbagan pandal, leaving 19 dead and 25 injured

Kolkata Durga Puja stampede: Eyewitnesses flag lapses, police probe begins

Kolkata Police are investigating whether lapses in crowd management, confusion over entry and exit routes and heavy rain contributed to the stampede at Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal that left 19 people dead on Saturday evening, a senior officer said. Several eyewitnesses alleged that announcements about entry, exit and crowd movement were inadequate, leaving visitors confused during the rush hours. Locals also claimed that police deployment at the pandal was inadequate, alleging that personnel were mainly stationed near the VIP entrance. "I have not seen adequate police presence this year. This resulted in the mismanagement," Sanghamitra Bhowmik, a resident of the Chorbagan area, said. Locals also alleged that there was little administrative assistance in taking the injured to hospitals. "There must be some lapses, but these should be probed. Whether lapses were on the part of the organisers or they had flouted the rules to erect the pandal will be checked," the police officer told

At least 19 dead, 25 injured in stampede at Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata

At least 25 people were injured in a stampede-like situation arising out of a crowd surge at a community Durga Puja in north Kolkata on Saturday evening, police said. As it started raining, the crowd waiting outside the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal rushed forward, and some of them fell on the road, leading to the stampede-like situation, a senior officer said. "At least 25 people were taken to the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital in serious condition," he said. West Bengal Health Minister Saradwat Mukherjee and senior officials rushed to the hospital. Disaster management personnel rushed to the spot.

Bengal Durga Puja business booms for big organisers, smaller committees lag

West Bengal's Durga Puja commercial landscape was marked by uneven gains this year, with large puja organisers, malls, organised retailers and e-commerce platforms reporting brisk business, while smaller puja committees, traditional markets and hawkers struggled to keep pace. While government data showed 13,000 more pujas being organised this year than last, the divide between big-budget celebrations and smaller community pujas remained stark. Large and traditionally popular puja organisers reported fully booked outdoor advertising slots, with rates rising by at least 20 per cent amid the growing use of LED displays. Smaller committees, however, faced weaker advertising demand, with some outdoor advertising slots remaining vacant. Kajol Sarkar, an office-bearer of the Forum for Durgotsab, an umbrella body representing over 550 community Durga Puja committees in Kolkata, Howrah and their suburbs, said advertisers were concentrating on specific routes rather than spreading their ...

Climate, floods, war: Why sweets are getting costlier this festival season

The main culprit behind this cost escalation are rising prices of sugar and milk that go into making the sweets that are devoured during Diwali and Durga Puja

Bengal permits 12,400 new Durga Pujas; ₹1 lakh grants to be disbursed soon

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said his government had granted permission for 12,400 new Durga Pujas this year and all of them had received financial assistance from the state. Speaking at a special programme marking the beginning of 'Debipaksha' at the Eden Gardens here, Adhikari said around 45,000 Durga Pujas were held in the state last year. "Earlier, (during the previous government) to hold Durga Pujas, one had to approach the Calcutta High Court to get requisite permission. It was sad. I do not think there is a single such case this time. Compared to the number of Durga Pujas held in 2025, this year we have 12,400 new pujas," he said. "In our Cabinet meeting, we decided that Durga Pujas will not commence during Pitripakkha, which is why we inaugurated it today during Debipokkho. We had decided that this year, besides the cultural aspects of the puja, we will also follow the customary rituals as per the traditional Hindu astrological almanac," Adhikari .

Meat of the matter: BJP's imprint on Durga Puja in West Bengal

With the state govt issuing new guidelines for Bengal's biggest festival, conversations around traditions are intensifying

Is Dussehra 2025 on October 1 or 2? When will Vijayadashami take place

Dussehra is a popular Hindu festival marking the victory of good over evil. It marks Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and Goddess Durga's over Mahishasura

Clashes during idol immersion trigger arson in Cuttack; internet suspended

According to a Government of Odisha circular, a prohibition has been imposed on the use and access of social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and X, until 7 PM on Monday

11 feared drowned in MP's Khandwa during idol immersion, CM announces aid

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has condoled the demise of people in the incident, and announced Rs 4 lakh ex gratia for the families of the deceased

Dussehra 2025: 5 must-visit places to witness best Vijayadashami in India

Dussehra or Vijayadashami is being celebrated on Thursday, Oct 2. It celebrates the victory of good over evil, marking Lord Rama's victory over King Ravana & Goddess Durga over the Mahishasura

Why Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra's dance-drama, Ram, endures, 68 years on

The two-and-a-half-hour distillation of Tulsidas's epic has turned performance into pilgrimage, drawing audiences across generations

Happy Dussehra 2025: Safety tips for enjoying Vijayadashami mela foods

Today's celebration of Dussehra 2025 signifies the end of the Navratri celebrations and the victory of good over evil. Meanwhile, food vendors, colourful mela & Ravan dahan make the fair more joyful

Amit Shah to join Durga Puja festivities, inaugurate pandals in Kolkata

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take part in Durga Puja festivities in Kolkata on Friday. He arrived in the metropolis on Thursday night and was received at the airport by senior state BJP leader Rahul Sinha. Shah will inaugurate the pandal of the Santosh Mitra Square Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity in north Kolkata on Friday. Organised by BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh, the Durga Puja pandal has showcased 'Operation Sindoor'. Shah will then visit the Kalighat temple in south Kolkata and offer puja. Later, he will inaugurate the Durga Puja pandal of the BJP-backed Paschim Banga Sanskriti Mancha at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) in Salt Lake. He will leave the city in the evening.

Durga Puja 2025: Corporate sponsorship up across West Bengal's 45K pandals

Corporate sponsorship for Durga Puja is buoyant in Kolkata with brands returning strongly, though retail sales show mixed trends across malls, shopping hubs and markets

Moderate rain likely in Kolkata today; check key weather updates here

IMD forecasts light to moderate showers and gusty winds in Kolkata today, with mostly cloudy skies and occasional thundershowers; heavy rain is unlikely over the next 24 hours

Google Gemini Nano Banana AI: Top 5 prompts for a perfect Durga Puja look

The image editing app Nano Banana, developed by Google Gemini, has gone viral on social media. The recent trend enables users to create images inspired by Durga Puja from their photographs