States » EastPosted at: Oct 14 2026 11:27PM


Union home minister Amit Shah to visit Belur Math, four pujas during Kolkata Durga Puja trip: West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari

Kolkata, Oct 14 (UNI) union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Kolkata on October 17-18 during Durga Puja, with his itinerary including Belur Math and four prominent pujas, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Wednesday.
Adhikari said Shah would arrive in Kolkata on the evening of October 17 and begin his engagements the following morning, when he would first visit Belur Math.
"On the morning of October 18, he will first visit Belur Math. After that, he has several other programmes," Adhikari told reporters.
According to the itinerary emerging from BJP and other official sources, Shah is expected to arrive from Ahmedabad at around 8 pm on October 17 and stay overnight at the state guest house, Soujanya, in Alipore. On October 18, he is scheduled to visit Belur Math before proceeding to Deshbandhu Club in Bally.
He is then expected to return to Soujanya before visiting Chetla 24 Palli, followed by Sovabazar Rajbari in North Kolkata and Sreebhumi Sporting Club. He is scheduled to leave for Delhi later on October 18.
The Belur Math visit assumes particular significance as the Ramakrishna Math and Mission has scheduled its Saptami worship on October 18, with the day's puja beginning at 5.40 am.
Adhikari said Shah's visit was aimed at participating in the religious and cultural traditions of the festival rather than merely touring elaborately decorated puja pandals.
"The pandals are secondary. People should come for darshan of the Goddess, offer their prayers and perform the rituals that are part of our tradition and Sanatan culture," he said.
The Chief Minister said the BJP had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah, the party's national president, union ministers and chief ministers of other states to Bengal during Durga Puja.
"We have invited everyone. We do not do things virtually; we do them in person," he said.
Shah's visit comes amid heightened political activity in West Bengal. Adhikari sought to portray the participation of the Prime Minister, Home Minister and senior BJP leaders in Durga Puja as a significant development for the state.
The Home Minister had also visited Kolkata during Durga Puja last year, when he attended the Santosh Mitra Square puja and a BJP-linked event at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre in Salt Lake. Neither venue is part of his reported itinerary this year. UNI SEN CDS
Tags: #Union home minister Amit Shah to visit Belur Math# four pujas during Kolkata Durga Puja trip: West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari
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