Security across West Bengal has been tightened for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations, as police, civic authorities, and community groups prepare to manage one of the state’s biggest annual festivals. Durga Puja brings millions of people out on the streets, not just in Kolkata, but in towns and villages all across Bengal. With grand decorations, dazzling lights, and crowded pandals, the festival also creates serious security and safety challenges that officials say need careful planning.

Durga Puja is more than just a religious celebration in Bengal. It is part of the state’s identity and culture, combining art, tradition, music, and food. UNESCO even listed Durga Puja as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021, recognizing the festival’s global significance. This year, more than 40,000 public pujas are expected across Bengal, with over 2,500 in Kolkata alone. Such massive gatherings naturally demand high levels of crowd and traffic control.

Officials have said the sheer movement of people—often in the millions per day during the festival’s peak—requires extra steps: surveillance cameras around major pandals, police pickets at busy intersections, metal detectors at entry points, and more personnel on the ground.

The Kolkata Police has announced elaborate planning for this year’s Puja. Around 35,000 police personnel are expected to be deployed in the city. These include special forces for anti-sabotage checks, river police to keep watch along the Hooghly, and quick response teams in case of emergencies. Large pandals like Deshapriya Park, College Square, or Ekdalia Evergreen will have additional security cover, similar to how airports and busy stations are managed during festivals.

Drone surveillance will also be used for the first time in several districts to monitor crowd flow. Fire brigades and disaster management teams will be on standby near bigger puja venues. Traffic control is also a big concern. Special traffic police units will try to handle the traditional “pandal hopping” rush when lakhs travel from one puja to another late into the night. Metro Rail services in Kolkata are expected to run extra trains till midnight and in some cases even later.

Many people welcome the security arrangements, as safety has become a bigger concern following reports of stampedes, pickpocketing, and occasional fire hazards in past years. Families with young children and elderly members particularly look for reassurance that pandal areas will be safe and manageable.

However, some locals also point out that overly strict restrictions can take away from the joy of Puja. “We understand safety is important," said one shopkeeper near a popular South Kolkata puja, “but when too many barricades are placed or public movement is restricted, people get frustrated. Puja is about open celebration.” This shows how balancing security and celebration is not always easy.

Experts suggest that security cannot only rely on policing, but also on community cooperation. Puja committees have been asked to install CCTV cameras, maintain emergency exits, and hire private security staff to work alongside the police. Volunteers play an important role in managing queues, guiding visitors, and helping in emergencies.

Technology has also become crucial. Several puja organizing committees are experimenting with mobile apps and websites that update real-time crowd data, helping pandal hoppers plan their routes better and avoid overstuffed areas. Some are also providing QR codes for digital maps and safety information.

Durga Puja in Bengal has always been about managing scale. It is the moment when art meets faith on an enormous canvas. But with growth in popularity every year, the responsibility of safeguarding everyone has become more complex. Authorities stress that high security is not about spoiling the fun, but about letting people enjoy without fear.

Still, the challenge remains: how to keep lakhs of visitors safe, while also allowing the spontaneity and joy of Puja to shine through? Many say the responsibility lies equally with the public. Following guidelines, not pushing during queues, and being alert about suspicious activity are small steps that contribute to the larger effort.

The festival runs for five days officially, but in reality, the celebrations and outings go on for nearly two weeks. With so much at stake, officials believe this year might set a benchmark in handling large cultural festivals in urban spaces. The lessons Bengal learns during Durga Puja—from traffic management to rapid medical response—could even serve as models for similar large-scale gatherings in other parts of India.

As one security officer put it simply, “Durga Puja is for everyone—children, elderly, locals, tourists. Our job is to make sure each of them feels safe enough to celebrate with a smile.”

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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