West Bengal's Durga Puja: Private patrons to public pools to corporate capital, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• Durga Puja in West Bengal generates an estimated Rs 50,000-65,000 crore in annual economic activity, contributing 2.5% to 3% of the state's GSDP.
• The festival has evolved from private rituals of zamindars (Bonedi Puja) to community-led celebrations (Barowari Puja) and modern "themed" art spectacles.
• A recent trend shows increasing corporatisation, with private companies moving beyond sponsorships to direct patronage, like the Adani Group's grant program.
• In 2021, UNESCO inscribed Durga Puja on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• The festival supports a significant micro-economy, including clay modelers in Kumartuli and illumination artists in Chandannagar.

Durga Puja.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• The earliest documented organized Durga Puja dates back to the early 17th century, with the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family in Barisha.
• Raja Nabakrishna Deb organized a notable puja in 1757 at Shobhabazar Rajbari, coinciding with the East India Company's rise in Bengal.
• The Barowari Puja tradition began in 1759 in Guptipara, Hooghly, democratizing the festival by shifting funding to public donations.
• During the independence movement, public pandals served as important sites for nationalist mobilization and fostering social solidarity.
• Economic liberalization in the mid-1990s led to the rise of "themed" pujas, transforming pandals into elaborate art installations.
• Funding for themed pujas shifted from local subscriptions to corporate sponsorships, engaging specialized professionals like architects and designers.
• A British Council study in 2019 estimated the creative economy around Durga Puja at Rs 32,377 crore, which has since grown significantly.
• The economic footprint spans retail, fashion, food and beverage, event production, and corporate advertising.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Bonedi Puja: Traditional Durga Puja organized privately by aristocratic families or zamindars in their ancestral homes.
• Barowari Puja: Community-led Durga Puja, funded by public donations and managed by local committees.
• Intangible Cultural Heritage: Cultural practices, expressions, knowledge, and skills recognized by UNESCO as part of humanity's heritage.