📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Xopolino
Religion
Durga Puja at the centre of Bengal’s emerging culture war over ownership
✍️ India Today
🗓 04 Oct 2026, 07:46 PM
👁 12
A growing debate over who can claim ownership of Durga Puja is turning the iconic Bengal festival into a cultural flashpoint.
Durga Puja, the month‑long celebration that dominates the streets of West Bengal each autumn, is now the subject of an intense cultural dispute. Scholars, community leaders and political commentators are debating who holds the right to define the festival’s rituals, symbols and public representation.
The controversy has surfaced as various groups assert that the festival belongs to distinct cultural or religious constituencies, challenging the long‑standing perception of Durga Puja as a shared Bengali heritage. Proponents of each claim argue that historical practices, regional variations and contemporary adaptations justify their ownership.
The debate reflects broader identity politics in the state, where cultural symbols are increasingly linked to political narratives. While the festival proceeds with its traditional processions and artistic displays, the conversation about its custodianship continues to shape public discourse.
No official resolution has emerged, and organizers of the major pandals have emphasized that the celebrations will go ahead irrespective of the ongoing cultural arguments, underscoring the resilience of the festival’s communal spirit.
The controversy has surfaced as various groups assert that the festival belongs to distinct cultural or religious constituencies, challenging the long‑standing perception of Durga Puja as a shared Bengali heritage. Proponents of each claim argue that historical practices, regional variations and contemporary adaptations justify their ownership.
The debate reflects broader identity politics in the state, where cultural symbols are increasingly linked to political narratives. While the festival proceeds with its traditional processions and artistic displays, the conversation about its custodianship continues to shape public discourse.
No official resolution has emerged, and organizers of the major pandals have emphasized that the celebrations will go ahead irrespective of the ongoing cultural arguments, underscoring the resilience of the festival’s communal spirit.