(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Durga Puja in Darjeeling Faces Budget Cuts Amid Nepal’s Political Turmoil
Darjeeling, the scenic hill town in West Bengal, is gearing up for Durga Puja 2024, but this year’s celebrations look set to be more subdued. Officials from local Durga Puja committees shared with that Nepal’s ongoing political unrest is hitting their finances hard, leading to slashed budgets and even canceled events.
Deepak Chakraborty, secretary of the Panitanki Byabasai Samity Durga Puja committee, explained the tough spot they’re in. "This year, we’re skipping the grand pandal setup and just doing a simple puja at the temple," he said. The committee usually relies on donations from around 948 shops in the area, which fund about 95% of the budget. But with Nepal’s instability, only 10% of these shops are open, and those that are see zero customers. "Out of 948 shops, 900 are shut. The few open ones have no footfall," Chakraborty added.
He pointed out that Durga Puja in Darjeeling draws huge crowds from Nepal every year, boosting local sales and donations. This was supposed to be their 50th anniversary celebration with a big budget, but they pulled the plug just 3-4 days ago. "Most visitors come from Nepal. Without them, it’s a huge loss. We cut back during COVID too, but this feels even worse," Chakraborty shared, sounding visibly upset.
The committee is getting Rs 1.1 lakh from the government to help with Durga Puja funding, but that’s not enough for a full-scale event. "One puja alone costs a lot more. We’re holding a meeting at 3 PM today to finalize the scaled-down budget," he noted. No big pandals this time—it’s all about keeping things simple.
Bidyut Das, president of the Sibaji Sangha Durga Puja committee, echoed the same worries. "We’re facing real challenges this Durga Puja season. Nepali businessmen used to donate vegetables and more, but that’s stopped," he told . Their pandal budget has already dropped by 20%, and without customers from across the border, local markets are empty. "This has never happened before. Our puja depends on business, and right now, it’s hurting."
The root of the problem lies in Nepal’s political crisis. Just hours after former Chief Justice Sushila Karki took oath as the interim Prime Minister, Nepal’s Parliament dissolved late Friday. The President’s office announced fresh elections for March 5, 2026, kicking off a six-month transitional government. This move, approved in Karki’s first cabinet meeting at 11 PM, has fueled the unrest spilling over into neighboring areas like Darjeeling.
As Darjeeling’s shopkeepers and organizers adapt, the focus shifts to modest pujas that still honor the festival’s spirit. Will Nepal’s elections bring stability in time for next year? For now, Durga Puja 2024 in the hills will be a quieter affair, reminding us how connected communities across borders really are.
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