The government decision to organise a carnival in Chandernagore on the occasion of Jagaddhatri Puja has left residents worried that it would spoil the essence of their 64-year-old immersion procession.
A group of residents took out a protest march along the Strand Road on the banks of the Hooghly on Sunday afternoon.
The traditional immersion procession moves along this road every year. The information and cultural affairs department has identified the road to set up pavilions for tourists across the country and abroad to celebrate the carnival.
A Facebook page titled, Carnival Na Procession Chai (Want procession, not carnival), was created and people in Chandernagore were invited to participate in the protest.
Around 100-odd participants assembled on Strand Road and began walking with placards that read — Want Procession.
Kaustav Kayal, one of the protesters, said most people in Chandernagore don’t want to rename the immersion procession as Carnival.
“The procession already draws overseas tourists. There is no need to promote the event with a new name. The immersion procession has always been apolitical. We fear the carnival will be filled with government guests.”
People from all over the country and abroad land up at Chandernagore to witness the immersion procession.
“If the immersion procession becomes a carnival, we fear people’s participation as viewers might be restricted,” a resident said.
“If the event is organised like the Red Road model, will there be tickets or passes for visitors?”
The Facebook page had three demands: immersion procession’s name cannot be changed to Carnival, no announcement related to the government’s affairs will be allowed and no government logo can be used.
Minister of state for Information and Cultural Affairs Indranil Sen was in Chandernagore on Sunday and he met civic officials and police officers.
“There’s no final plan. We have discussed several issues, including security arrangement, related to the carnival,” an officer of Chandernagore commissionerate said.
Repeated calls to Sen’s phone went unanswered.
Nimai Das, a member of Chandernagore Central Jagaddhatri Puja Committee, said the body hadn’t received any official communication on the carnival.
“We have 161 puja organisers in the central body. Once we receive such a proposal, we will convene a meeting and the majority’s decision will be accepted,” Das said.