Durga Puja Controversy Escalates in Bagbera Colony, Jamshedpur

Two committees clash over Durga Puja rites in Bagbera, Jamshedpur, leading to a significant police presence to maintain peace.

JAMSHEDPUR – The well-known Bagbera Colony’s Road No. 4 Durga Puja is currently embroiled in controversy.

Two committees, the Mai Darbar Committee and the Sri Sri Sarvajanik Durga Puja Committee, are at odds over the organization of the Puja, which has been celebrated here since 1962.

Seeing the escalating tension, the administration deployed a large number of police to pacify the local populace, but the situation remains unresolved.

Anil Singh, the nominated chairman of the Mai Darbar Committee, stated that Durga Puja has been organized in Bagbera since 1962, managed by the Mai Darbar Committee for several years, with Pawan Kumar Ojha as the license holder.

Singh accused a selected group of individuals of exerting undue pressure to control the Durga Puja proceedings.

According to Singh, last year, on the women’s request, this group was allowed to conduct the puja, and they are now attempting to continue this trend, which Singh believes is incorrect.

He stated that after the local elections, the worship should be managed by the elected president, a role that he currently holds as per local consensus.

On the other hand, Kavita Parmar, a Zila Parishad member, and manager of the Sri Sri Sarvajanik Durga Puja Committee, claimed that while the Mai Darbar has held the Durga Puja for many years, the celebrations lacked the appropriate atmosphere.

Parmar revealed that local women took over the celebration last year and plan to maintain this arrangement.

She expressed her displeasure towards the opposing committee members, accusing them of distancing themselves from last year’s celebrations and now creating controversy.

In response to the escalating conflict, Bagbera police deployed heavy police presence.

Magistrate Sumit Prakash, from the office of the Dhalbhum subdivision officer, tried to negotiate with both parties but to no avail.

Until a decision is reached at the subdivision office, all activities at the place of worship have been halted.