Click to play videoNew Delhi: Durga puja celebrations will be toned down this year as puja organisers in the Capital slash expenses on cultural programmes due to inflation and Bihar floods.
A pandal organiser, B P Dutta has slashed this year's puja expenses. Dutta origibally from Bihar and has expressed his solidarity with the flood victims.
"Ek taraf hamarey bhai mar rahein hain, isliye hum ne budget ko cut down kiya hai aur hum puja karenge normal tareeke se (Our brothers have died in the floods and hence we have budgeted this year's celebrations but the prayers will go on normally)," says Dutta.
Dutta has slashed expenses for this year's puja by over Rs 6 lakh by cutting down on cultural programmes and even the decoration of the pandal.
"Last year the entire puja expenses costed 1Rs 5 lakh this year it's costed us Rs 10 lakh," he says.
Dutta has also been sensitive in chosing the colour scheme of the pandal as he's chosen subdued colours and more of whites.
Meanwhile, another organiser Ashim Banerjee faces a different problem. Last year he raised over Rs 45 lakh but this year he has raised only Rs 35 lakh.
"We had some major plannings but cut down because of paucity of funds," he says.
Ashim says the inflation and the market slowdown has affected the puja this time. And with lesser people donating money for the Puja cuts are imminent.
"We've slashed down the lighting budget this year so there's no special lighting," says Banerjee.
The lighting and music may not be loud and the decoration may not be bright, but clearly what shines through is the spirit of celebration.
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