He said that with over 40,000 community pujas across the state, this festival boosts economic activities for three-four months every year.
He said that with over 40,000 community pujas across the state, this festival boosts economic activities for three-four months every year.
Not just fun and frolic, Durga Puja in West Bengal is a grand economic affair, involving transactions worth at least Rs 40,000 crore, creating employment opportunities for nearly three lakh people, stakeholders said on Monday.
With over 40,000 community pujas across the state, including 3,000 in Kolkata, the festival boosts economic activity for three-four months every year, he said.
Partho Ghosh, president, said, “The grandeur surrounding the festival involves transactions of not less than Rs 40,000 crore and provides employment to at least two-three lakh people across the state as the festive activities started three-four months back.” are.” Forum for Durgatsab (FFD), an umbrella organization of 400 community pujas.
Puja committees act as facilitators of the micro-economy, said Mr. Ghosh, who has been involved in community worship for 52 years and is the organizer of the Sarbajanin Durga Puja, a Shiva temple in south Kolkata.
He said that the five-day festival is attended by people from different walks of life – pandal makers, idol makers, electricians, security guards, priests, dhakis, laborers involved in idol transport, and people involved in ‘bhog’ and catering arrangements, They told PTI,
Mr. Ghosh said, “We do this important work for the sake of the general public and for the preservation of our culture.”
Not only the core Durga Puja activities, but also the fashion, clothing, footwear, cosmetics and retail sectors get a boost from people buying and selling, while literature and publishing, travel, travel, hotels and restaurants and film and entertainment businesses are a pleasure. take. FFD President Kajal Sarkar said there was a sudden jump in sales during the five-day festival.
“We estimate that this year around the festival the transactions could be up to Rs 50,000 crore,” he added. PTI,
“Two years after the pandemic, the revelers, this time, are going to the pandal with renewed vigor, while the corporates are also generous this time for sponsorships, spending at least ₹500 crore. People around the festival cheer. Unique selling proposition,” said Mr. Sarkar, who is associated with the Bospukur Sheetal Mandir Puja Committee.
They also see the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage tag given to Durga Puja as a “collective achievement” and hope that the recognition will help enrich the festival in the years to come.
Amid the political stalemate over a grant of Rs 60,000 for each of the 40,000 pujas by the “economically weak” West Bengal government, he believes the assistance to maintain the state’s culture and traditions will be “barori (community)”. ) is helpful for worship”.
Economist Debnarayan Sarkar said that Durga Puja is a consumption-based activity and has a manifold impact on the state’s GDP.
“An ASSOCHAM study in 2013 revealed that the size of the Durga Puja industry was ₹25,000 crore and was estimated to be growing by about 35%. If we consider this, the puja industry is now estimated to be around ₹70,000 crore. We need a proper study. To assess the value of the worship economy,” he said.
“Comparing the length and breadth of Durga Puja, we are sure that its contribution to the state’s economy is equal to or greater than the contribution of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival to the Brazilian city economy and the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan.” Former Professor of Presidency University Mr. Sarkar told PTI,
The British Council conducted a study mapping the creative economy around Durga Puja 2019, which revealed that Durga Puja accounts for 2.58% of the state’s GDP.
“We commissioned research for the West Bengal government, which estimated the total value of creative industries around Durga Puja in the state to be around ₹33,000 crore ($4.5 billion) in 2019. This established two things – similar research in the future. and a methodology for conducting similar research for other festivals or indeed, the entire creative economy of West Bengal and in other states,” said Debanjan Chakraborty, Director, British Council, East and Northeast India. .
West Bengal Industries Minister Shashi Panja said that after the pandemic there is speculation that the size of the worship economy this year is much higher than the British Council’s estimate. PTI,
When asked by Forum for Durgatsab members about the estimation of the worship economy, he said, “The British Council’s economic assessment is based on research. The basic fact is that it generates a lot of employment and economic activity in the festival.”
The need for a post-pandemic assessment of the state’s post-festival economy was discussed at the second constructive roundtable meeting convened by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation on 23 September, with the British Council being a partner with FICCI and EY, Mr. Chakraborty he said. ,
“We would be very happy to be part of any subsequent research of this kind here in West Bengal or other states of India. Research and insights into the creative economy are an important part of our work in arts and culture, and a major strength in the UK Which we want to share generously,” he said.