Durga Puja 2026 Guidelines: West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari Announces Alcohol Sale Ban and Strict Pandal Rules
West Bengal has announced new Durga Puja guidelines, including a ban on alcohol sales on Maha Ashtami and restrictions on DJ sound systems during celebrations and immersion processions. Pandal openings before Mahalaya are prohibited, while committees must keep major roads clear. Eligible smaller pujas will receive INR 1 lakh grants and free electricity.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a comprehensive set of new guidelines and regulations for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations, introducing strict timelines for pandal inaugurations alongside a complete ban on the sale of alcohol on Maha Ashtami.
As per a report by News18, the administrative directives were finalised following a high-level review meeting with various Durga Puja committees in Kolkata. Under the newly enforced rules, organizers are prohibited from opening pandals to the public before the commencement of Mahalaya, ensuring that all celebrations strictly align with traditional cultural timelines during the matri paksh phase. Maha Ashtami 2026: Why West Bengal Is Shutting Liquor Shops and Bars Across the State.
Durga Puja 2026 GuidelinesÂ
#Breaking: #WestBengal CM #SuvenduAdhikari announces several guidelines for Durga Puja 2026.
- No Durga Puja pandal inauguration ahead of Mahalaya.
- Pandals will be allowed for inauguration only in matri paksh.
- No DJ during Durga puja or immersion.
- Request no distortion…
— Pooja Mehta (@pooja_news) September 7, 2026
Durga Puja 2026 Guidelines on Alcohol Sales and DJs
The state administration has ordered a complete shutdown of all licensed liquor shops, bars, and alcohol distribution outlets across West Bengal on Maha Ashtami, which falls on October 19, 2026. Furthermore, the government has placed a strict prohibition on the use of DJ sound systems during both the festival days and the subsequent idol immersion processions to prevent public inconvenience and noise pollution.
Chief Minister Adhikari also emphasized that national highways and major public roads cannot be blocked for pandal constructions or celebrations, directing local committees to maintain smooth traffic movement. Additionally, administrative protocols have barred the use of heavy cranes during immersion rituals at river ghats.
Durga Puja 2026: Financial Support and Festival Modifications
To assist smaller organizers, the state government will provide a direct financial grant of one lakh INR alongside free electricity provisions and waived fire safety license fees for qualifying community pujas. However, the administration has urged financially robust and prominent committees to decline state funding voluntarily. Dhirendra Shastri vs Samik Bhattacharya: West Bengal BJP Chief Rejects Meat Ban Call During Durga Puja (Video).
The government has also discontinued the large-scale Red Road carnival introduced by previous administrations, opting instead to streamline tourism events through the state tourism department while urging all committees to safeguard religious sentiments and traditional aesthetics in their artistic presentations
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 07, 2026 10:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
