Mamata Banerjee Durga Puja Idol

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is to share the spotlight with Goddess Durga at a Durga Puja pandal - one located near the Kolkata airport - next month

On Bijoya Dashami, the end of Durga Puja, only a handful of pandal organisers across West Bengal turned up to immerse idols today when Muslims also observed Muharram

The day after the high court cancelled unusual restrictions imposed in West Bengal on Puja processions this year, the Mamata Banerjee government on Friday decided that people will have to seek police permission for immersion of Durga idols on Muharram, the Muslim day of mourning.

"Slit my throat but no one tells me what to do," a defiant Mamata Banerjee declared today after a court said her government in Bengal cannot ban the immersion of Durga idols on Muharram and cancelled the unusual restrictions that she had ordered on grounds that there could be trouble. "You are exercising extreme power without any basis," the Calcut...

Questioning the West Bengal government's curbs on Durga idol immersion, the Calcutta High Court today said the state cannot hinder a citizen's right to practice religion on the basis of a mere assumption of law and order disruption and must provide sound reasons for doing so.

The West Bengal government, which drew flak over restrictions on immersion of Durga idols, today told the Calcutta High Court that immersion will be allowed till 10 pm on September 30. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier said that it will be permitted only till 6 pm on that day.

In a more charged re-run of last year, the immersion of idols of Goddess Durga - West Bengal's chief deity - and the observance of Muharram - the day of sorrow in the Islamic faith - are set on course for a head-on collision.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday flagged off what she said is Kolkata's answer to the famed Carnival at Rio.

This Durga Puja, Mamata Banerjee has 12 arms and is transformed from Didi to "Ma". The pujas begin on Friday and while Kolkata's many pandals are usually the big draw, a Durga idol two hours away from the city is all the buzz this time.

She is a politician and a fiery orator, she also sings, paints and recites poetry. And now Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who maintains a punishing schedule, has found the time to design the idols and decor of a Durga puja marquee.The Trinamool Congress chief has chosen a community puja - the Bakul Bagan Sarbojanin Durga Utsav - close to her Kal...

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is to share the spotlight with Goddess Durga at a Durga Puja pandal - one located near the Kolkata airport - next month

On Bijoya Dashami, the end of Durga Puja, only a handful of pandal organisers across West Bengal turned up to immerse idols today when Muslims also observed Muharram

The day after the high court cancelled unusual restrictions imposed in West Bengal on Puja processions this year, the Mamata Banerjee government on Friday decided that people will have to seek police permission for immersion of Durga idols on Muharram, the Muslim day of mourning.

"Slit my throat but no one tells me what to do," a defiant Mamata Banerjee declared today after a court said her government in Bengal cannot ban the immersion of Durga idols on Muharram and cancelled the unusual restrictions that she had ordered on grounds that there could be trouble. "You are exercising extreme power without any basis," the Calcut...

Questioning the West Bengal government's curbs on Durga idol immersion, the Calcutta High Court today said the state cannot hinder a citizen's right to practice religion on the basis of a mere assumption of law and order disruption and must provide sound reasons for doing so.

The West Bengal government, which drew flak over restrictions on immersion of Durga idols, today told the Calcutta High Court that immersion will be allowed till 10 pm on September 30. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier said that it will be permitted only till 6 pm on that day.

In a more charged re-run of last year, the immersion of idols of Goddess Durga - West Bengal's chief deity - and the observance of Muharram - the day of sorrow in the Islamic faith - are set on course for a head-on collision.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday flagged off what she said is Kolkata's answer to the famed Carnival at Rio.

This Durga Puja, Mamata Banerjee has 12 arms and is transformed from Didi to "Ma". The pujas begin on Friday and while Kolkata's many pandals are usually the big draw, a Durga idol two hours away from the city is all the buzz this time.

She is a politician and a fiery orator, she also sings, paints and recites poetry. And now Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who maintains a punishing schedule, has found the time to design the idols and decor of a Durga puja marquee.The Trinamool Congress chief has chosen a community puja - the Bakul Bagan Sarbojanin Durga Utsav - close to her Kal...