From next year, immersion carnival at all districts

Kolkata: After the grand success of immersion carnival on Red Road, the state government has decided to hold similar carnivals in every district from the next year.

Sources said that many Durga Puja organisers from districts had approached to get place in the Red Road carnival. But it was not possible to accommodate idols of all the Puja organisers who had approached to take part in the carnival that was held on October 3.

As a result, to give a similar platform to the award winning Durga Pujas of the districts, the state government has decided to organise immersion carnival in every district.

It is learnt that 25 best Durga Puja organisers in each district will be allowed to participate in the respective carnivals of the districts.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had started the immersion procession from 2016 and this year, it was the second edition of the carnival. From the third year, the same programme will take place in all districts besides the one that takes place on Red Road with a lot of pomp and grandeur.

The district authorities will be identifying the suitable stretch of roads where such processions can be conducted without causing much inconvenience to common people.

The district authorities will be decorating the roads as the Red Road was beautified using special lighting arrangements and flowers.

This year, idols of three best Durga Puja organisers from Howrah and one from North 24 Parganas took part in the Red Road carnival.

Concerned officials have found that a large number of people from districts wanted to watch the extravaganza along Red Road on October 3. But they couldn't reach the city for different reasons. So it has been decided to hold a similar programme in the districts as well.

In the districts too, the trucks on which idols will be carried will be decorated properly. The carnival that marks the conclusion of Durga Puja, which is the biggest festival of Bengal, attracts tourists from different parts of the country and abroad as well.

The state government officials feel that the initiative to organise similar carnivals in all the districts will help in attracting people in all the tourist spots of the state instead of only in Kolkata.