West Bengal bans liquor sales on Maha Ashtami and ends the Mamata-era Durga Puja carnival, according to reports from multiple outlets. The decision also affects entertainment during immersion-related activities, with NDTV citing restrictions on DJs.
The carnival previously drew crowds in Kolkata, particularly around Red Road, and was held as a post-Puja spectacle featuring idols from major committees before immersion in the Hooghly River. India Today and NDTV both describe the move as ending the earlier carnival tradition associated with Mamata Banerjee’s period in office. NDTV additionally details that DJs are curtailed during the relevant period around immersion.
Across the coverage, the focus remains on two policy changes for Durga Puja: a prohibition on liquor sales on Maha Ashtami and the removal of the large public carnival that followed the festival. Both outlets frame the actions as part of updated rules governing how Durga Puja is celebrated and managed in the state.
