Overview

• Banerjee began inaugurations in Kolkata with Hatibagan Sarbojanin, Tala Prattoy and Sreebhumi, saying she will open around 3,000 pandals in four to five days and will unveil idols only from Mahalaya.
• West Bengal Police will field an additional 10,000–15,000 personnel district-wise from Mahalaya through the post-Puja carnivals, with Home Guards, NCC cadets and volunteers assisting crowd and traffic management.
• Kolkata Police will launch the Pujo Bandhu app before the festivities, offering pandal locations, entry-gate directions and integrated helpline numbers for quick assistance.
• BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accused the CM of hurting Hindu sentiments by inaugurating before Mahalaya, while TMC said only pandals were opened and no deities were unveiled.
• The state has raised grants for community pujas to ₹1.10 lakh each for roughly 43,000 organisers, highlighting government backing for the festival economy recognised by UNESCO.