Siliguri rings in festive spirit with Vishwakarma Puja

With the start of Vishwakarma Puja on Wednesday, Siliguri has already slipped into the festive mood of Durga Puja, aided by initiatives of the district administration.

Police commissioner C Sudhakar, accompanied by senior police officials and representatives from other departments, visited several Durga Puja pandals to ensure strict compliance with safety guidelines. “The objective of my visit is to monitor ongoing pandal construction and ensure the safety of pandal hoppers. We will not compromise with any organisers where safety norms are violated,” he told reporters, adding that inspections will continue to check adherence to police instructions.

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On the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, MPs Khagen Murmu and Raju Bista were seen sweeping Malda and Siliguri’s streets with brooms to promote the Swachh Bharat Mission.

At Bagdogra Airport, authorities observed ‘Yatri Sewa Diwas’ by welcoming passengers with traditional Indian hospitality and cultural performances. The programme also included plantation drives and a blood donation camp. Similar activities were held at airports across the country.

Preparations are underway for the ‘Namo Run’ scheduled for September 22 in Siliguri to mark the Prime Minister’s birthday. While the event will be held across 75 cities on September 21, Siliguri will host it a day later to coincide with another special programme.

Adding to the festive build-up, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is preparing to launch its centenary celebrations from West Bengal, with special activities already underway in Siliguri to energise swayamsevaks. A couplet from the RSS prayer — “Twadīyāya Kāryāya Baddhā Kaṭīyam, Śubhamāśiṣan Dehi Tatpūrtaye” — is being prominently highlighted under the banner “Mahalaya Integration – Sangh Centenary”. It has been announced that on September 21, 2025 (Sunday), the day of Mahalaya, the RSS will hold Mahalaya Integration events across all branches and city units in West Bengal to mark its centenary year.

Across north Bengal, the festive buzz is palpable, with shoppers thronging markets from Malda to Cooch Behar to prepare for the upcoming Durga Puja. In Malda’s Mothabari Ray Para, the foundation stone of a Ram Temple was laid today ahead of Vishwakarma Puja — a notable development as the area had witnessed communal unrest only a few months ago.