When the BJP swept the West Bengal Assembly elections in May, it evidently ruffled feathers among a few Bengalis, especially the self-proclaimed ‘bhadroloks’. They suspected that a change at the helm meant a shift in the Bengali way of life. And to no one’s surprise, Durga Puja, in the very first year of the BJP’s reign, has found itself at the centre of a heated cultural, religious, and political debate.
Among a series of new rules for Durga Puja, the Suvendu Adhikari-led government decided to ban DJs in pandals and immersion processions. Like other changes, this too triggered a widespread controversy, with critics and opposition parties strongly opposing the move, saying it is an attempt ‘to alter West Bengal’s cultural and religious identity’.
To begin with, DJs were never a part of Bengali culture or tradition. It emerged during the TMC’s 15-year rule. The high-decibel DJ music played during immersion processions is a modern addition that disrupts the traditional sanctity of Durga Puja, replacing heritage elements like the ‘dhak’ (traditional Bengali drums) and ‘shonkho’ (conch shells).
Before the TMC, the CPI (M) ruled in West Bengal for 34 years. Though they claimed to be atheists, the party, too, did not introduce arbitrary rules in Durga Puja for appeasement. TMC honcho Abhishek Banerjee’s love for DJ is understandable, but that doesn’t mean the party will be allowed to distort the actual traditions of the festival. That has been repealed.
Second, several BJP-led states, especially Uttar Pradesh, have enforced existing noise pollution laws. Politically, the execution of these rules frequently centres around complaints regarding the Azaan, leading critics to argue that the enforcement selectively pressures mosques.
Well, Durga Puja is a Hindu festival, and BJP’s move to ban DJs is proof that rules are meant for everybody, irrespective of religion. Be it any kind of noise, when it turns into pollution, it’s harmful.
Third, DJs have a particular set of crowds who find it fascinating. Let’s take the example of Kanwar Yatras — loud music, hooliganism on the road, escalating threat of lawlessness, choc-a-block traffic situations, and physical violence.
There have been similar patterns of disruption in West Bengal. For years, local youth groups and powerful puja committees, backed by the previous government, ignored the Calcutta High Court’s order on decibel limits. When police officers attempted to intervene in these processions, they were met with physical retaliation.
Bengalis are happy to maintain distance from such a crowd. Bengalis are happy with ‘dhak’ and ‘shonkho’.
Also read: Dear VHP, spend one Durga Puja in Kolkata before giving Bengalis food diktats
DJ ban isn’t anti-Bengali
The blanket ban on DJs during Durga Puja has been termed as ‘anti-Bengali’. But removing loudspeakers isn’t an assault on any culture. It’s basic civic sense.
Cultures evolve, and Bengalis are not immune to that phenomenon. However, any random recent trend cannot be mistaken for tradition just because it has been made popular. Also, all the famous traditions of Durga Puja — dhak, onjoli, shondhi puja, dhunuchi naach, sindoor khela, bhog, pandal hopping, non-vegetarian foods. and visarjan (immersion) — definitely don’t require a low-budget DJ in the background.
Nonetheless, the biggest irony in the entire Durga Puja controversy is that a handful of Left liberals have suddenly taken interest in gods, rituals, and Hindu traditions. If the BJP had not dethroned the TMC, it would have been impossible to know that the atheists have converted themselves to theists.
Their outrage has always been selective, though. In 2017, when the Mamata Banerjee-led government restricted Durga idol immersion, the same group was caught napping or shied away from talking. It was the Calcutta High Court that stepped in to resolve the issue.
Also, whether Durga Puja is a ‘culture’ or a religious festival, that topic is not for today.
Bengalis have lived through 34 years of Left rule and 15 years of TMC rule. Durga Puja survived both. It will survive the disappearance of DJs and another five years of BJP too. This Durga Puja, let the ‘dhak’ make more noise than the DJs. Let traditions prevail.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)