Digha will host a two-day Durga Puja cultural programme on 14 and 15 October, as the Bengal government expands festive celebrations across the coastal tourist belt to include illumination, traditional performances, a drone-controlled fireworks display and a headline concert by singer Shaan.
The programme, titled ‘Maa Aschen Durga Puja 2026’, has been organised by the state Information and Culture Department under the supervision of the East Midnapore district administration. Festive decorations, banners, festoons and colourful lighting have been installed in Digha, while celebrations have also been extended to Tajpur, Mandarmani and Shankarpur.
Digha is one of nine locations selected across Bengal for the special programme. The initiative follows an announcement by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at a drone show held at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, where plans were unveiled for similar celebrations at important centres across the state.
Shaan is scheduled to headline the inaugural evening on Wednesday. The programme will also feature cultural performances representing different districts of Bengal, including Purulia’s Chhau dance. Singer Anvesha Dutta and other traditional performers are scheduled to appear on the second day. A drone-controlled fireworks display is expected to be staged against the backdrop of the sea.
The event is being held as the extended Puja holidays are expected to increase visitor numbers across Digha and the adjoining coastal destinations. The administration has therefore focused on crowd control, tourist safety and coordination between government departments, alongside the cultural arrangements.
East Midnapore District Magistrate Niranjan Kumar has held coordination meetings with senior officials to review preparations. “Following the Chief Minister’s announcement and under the supervision of the Information and Culture Department, the grand ‘Maa Aschen’ programme has been organised in Digha. From illumination to tourist safety and entertainment, all necessary arrangements have been made,” Kumar said.
The programme is intended to give visitors an attraction beyond Digha’s beaches by combining cultural events with the coastal setting. The administration’s preparations cover Digha as well as the nearby tourist centres of Mandarmani, Tajpur and Shankarpur, creating a wider festive circuit along the coast.
Ramnagar MLA Chandrashekhar Mandal said the initiative would promote tourism and culture while enhancing the festive experience for visitors. He also criticised the previous government, alleging that it had not undertaken comparable initiatives. The report said there were indications that the Chief Minister might attend the Digha event, but his presence had not been officially confirmed.
The two-day programme will begin on 14 October, with the district administration’s crowd and safety arrangements remaining central to the event’s implementation.
