A file photo of foreign tourists enjoying Durga Puja in Kolkata
Kolkata: This year, the Adani Group will conduct the Durga Puja Preview Tour that offers select guests, including diplomats, international guests, cultural leaders, artists, academicians and corporate leaders a peek into 8-10 pujas before the festival begins in earnest and crowd builds up. Sources said the information and cultural affairs dept has given the go-ahead to the corporate house to manage the event that will be held from Oct 10 to 12. The timing of the puja preview will be from 6 pm to 4 am on each of the three days. including popular theme pujas of north and south Kolkata, this year’s theme puja is likely to be a mix of theme and tradition While the earlier preview shows encompassed 24 Durga Pujas.
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“We want to showcase the grandeur of Kolkata’s Durga Puja to international and national delegates so that it becomes one of the most recognisable festivals in the world,” said Adani Group adviser Sanjay Thade who will coordinate and supervise the activity in coordination with the state I&CA dept. Sources said the pujas will be selected on the basis of their preparedness to complete work by Mahalaya, their location, managerial capability, puja aesthetics, public safety and accessibility. Entry to the puja preview will be entirely free of charge,” Thade said. Sources said the Adani Group will fund these pujas separately to help them take their pujas ahead in terms of art, tradition, grandeur and hospitality that in turn enhance the respect for Kolkata and Bengal.
An expert committee will select the pujas. Past editions of the preview that was conceived by an organisation called MassArt had run into controversy after the change in govt with allegations surfacing about tickets being sold at exorbitant rates for the preview. FIRs were also lodged against former tourism minister Indranil Sen, his wife and MassArt officials. MassArt has denied the allegations. “This year’s preview tour would not interfere with the normal activities and celebrations of the Durga Puja festival as it would be conducted prior to the puja days when the festival is open to the public but from Mahalaya in keeping with Hindu tradition. The preview will also comprise financial grants provided to around eight puja organisers and their artists with the objective that its benefit extends over time to MSMEs across the state. Entry to the preview tour will be managed through a QR-based digital access system. Intending visitors will need to apply for entry on a website, with the complete IT and entry management process handled by the preview show organiser. Download the TOI App.