Economic Aspects of Durga Puja

 

It is around a space of two weeks; the heart throbbing festival of Durga Puja begins amid the spectre of mirth and gaiety. People from all walks of life participate in these five days of festivities all over West Bengal, other parts of India, Bangladesh plus rest of the globe. Apart from the euphoria and gaiety aspect, we feel that the economic aspect is equally important.  My query is that why is it so? This is because in a religious cum social event like Durga Puja, it needs a huge amount of money to carry on the five days of festivity.

Now the moot point which throngs my mind is how to procure money to observe these five days of Durga Puja. Durga Puja, as we are well aware of, is observed not only in West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and North East, but also in New Delhi, Mumbai plus other parts of the globe. The Puja is also celebrated all over Bangladesh.

Now taking up the example of observance in Calcutta and other parts of the state, the revenue is generated through local subscriptions by the Puja Committees, state government, multinational companies in the state capital Calcutta. It was just a couple of days back; we found that Ganesh Festival has been celebrated universally in and around the state. Now the time of celebration of Durga Puja has come which is going to begin within a span of fourteen days. The state government has already declared that each public Puja Committees of Calcutta plus other parts of the state is expected to be reimbursed around Rs 1.20 Lakhs. It might be more than a date. The expenses in running the Puja will be more in New Delhi, Mumbai, Patna, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar etc. In Kolkata, the bare minimum amount incurred in public Pujas are around Rs 1 crore apart from Rs 1.10 lakh as state government support. In all over West Bengal the probable expenses are estimated to be around in case of observance of public Durga Puja Rs 1 lakh, whereas in case of observance of household Puja is estimated to be around Rs 1,50,000. Apart from the normal expenses, we find that there has been a huge number of corporate subscriptions or donations which is estimated to be around Rs 700 crores in case of both household and public  Durga Puja (in case of Barwari Puja in Bengali).

While we evaluate the economics of Durga Puja in New Delhi, Mumbai, Cuttack, Patna, Jamshedpur, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar etc seems quite high and a skyrocketing one. Whatever data I do find from my data bank, it is estimated to be around Rs 20,000 crores in New Delhi. Apart from New Delhi, it is more or less around those figures.

Now coming to the Durga Puja observance in Kolkata, we find that in public Pujas of Kolkata as well as district cum suburban Pujas the hoardings which different companies advertise through hoardings are estimated to be around Rs 1 lakh. In the same manner, hoardings are offered in slightly higher amounts in Pujas of New Delhi, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Patna, Guwahati, Agartala etc.

As the inflation has surged up so high, hence it is difficult for the organizers to celebrate the Pujas. Despite human emotions being deeply inbuilt into it. In this regard also leading Media houses like Bennett Coleman Company Limited, AnandaBazar Patrika Private Limited etc various other reputed Media houses of the nation contribute huge numbers of advertisements to different Durga Puja Committees.

Summation of my above views. One point is crystal clear in our mind and heart, not only Durga Puja, in every field of activities, the concept of economics is deeply felt in our mind and heart. Without concentrating upon the economic aspects, humanity in life will not be in a position to move a step ahead for our development. Hence organising Durga Puja, each organiser needs a huge budget, otherwise it will be quite cumbersome to carry on the observance of this Puja. Every year the cost of observing Durga Puja is rising. That is why the organisers are finding it too tough to carry on the observance of Durga Puja. The same problems are faced during the observance of Kali Puja. Despite suffering inconveniences in observing Durga Puja, the same problems are faced during the time of Kali Puja.


Sujayendra Das is a 
columnist based in 
Calcutta, India.