International recognition of Durgotsava, grand procession in West Bengal on September 1

 

                                   India

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced to organize a grand march in West Bengal on September 1 to thank the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization UNESCO.  Last year, UNESCO recognized Autumn Durgo Festival as 'Intangible Cultural Heritage'.

 This announcement was made by Chief Minister Mamata in a meeting with the members of Kolkata Puja Celebration Committee at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium on Monday afternoon.

 As per the announcement, the procession will start from Kabiguru's Jorasanko residence.  It will end in Dharmatala.  The members of various puja celebration committees of Kolkata will participate in the procession along with thousands of people including children and youth.  This procession will be colorful.  It has been informed that there will be dance, song and street drama in the procession.

Durga Puja is the main festival of the Bengali Hindu community in the Indian subcontinent.  Bengalis celebrate this festival in almost every state of India including West Bengal, Tripura, Assam.  Although the autumn Durgo festival is universal for Bengali Hindus, the West Bengal government has been trying for years to get its international recognition.

 The West Bengal government applied to UNESCO in August last year to recognize Durga Puja as a world heritage festival.  An application for international recognition of Durga Puja was made through the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Central Government of India.  The ministry forwarded the application to UNESCO.

 There are six World Heritage Festivals recognized by UNESCO.  These are Basel Carnival in Switzerland, Carnival of Bensch in Belgium, Carnival of Granville in France, Carnival of Oruro in Bolivia, Frevo Performing Arts Carnival of Recife in Brazil and Carnival of Barranquilla in Colombia.

Government allocation is increasing for Puja celebrations

 Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also said in a meeting with the members of the Puja Committee of Kolkata that the festival of Durga Puja in Kolkata will be held on October 8.  Last time Rs 50,000 was given but this time Rs 60,000 will be given to the State Puja Celebration Committees.  Apart from this, Mamata Banerjee also announced a 60 percent discount on the electricity bill of Pujamandap.  There are 43,000 public worship registers in West Bengal.