Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee lays foundation stone for Durga Angan at New Town

Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday laid the foundation stone of ‘Durga Angan’ at Newtown, a cultural complex dedicated to Goddess Durga, saying the project is being developed to honour UNESCO’s recognition of the festival as a cultural heritage.

Like the Jagannath Temple in Digha, HIDCO is responsible for constructing this Durga Angan. The tender process has already been called and finalized. The Chief Minister explained on Monday why the initially identified land was changed. Mamata said, “The land we had first considered was 12 acres. I then said, if we’re doing it, let it be done on a grand scale. After that, we finalized this plot, which is 17.28 acres.”

Mamata has announced that this Durga Angan will emerge as the world’s largest Durga temple. The main temple will span 2 lakh square feet. There will be open courtyards all around. A large number of trees will be planted everywhere to maintain a lush green environment. The infrastructure is being built with the capacity to accommodate up to one lakh people daily in the Durga Angan. The temple complex will feature 1,008 pillars made with intricately designed arches. The height of the sanctum sanctorum will be 54 meters. There will be 108 idols of deities and 64 lion statues. Alongside the lion gate, there will be a sacred pond. Separate temples will be built for Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesh, Saraswati, and Kartik.

She has further stated that Durga Puja will be celebrated 365 days a year in this temple. Outside the sanctum sanctorum, space is being created so that 1,000 people can sit together at once. A separate area is also being built for cultural events. There will be a prasad hall. Parking facilities for vehicles will be constructed near the temple.

A trust has been formed, headed by the state’s Chief Secretary, which will oversee the construction as well as future operations of the temple. The state government had similarly formed a trust for the Jagannath Temple in Digha. Mamata informed that the amount already deposited in the Durga Angan fund is sufficient to cover the cost of the Durga idol. Representatives from Dakshineswar Temple, Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Ramakrishna Mission Kamarpukur, churches, Buddhist monasteries, gurdwaras, and the Muslim community attended the event. Representatives from Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan clubs were present as well. From the stage of the Durga Angan foundation stone-laying ceremony, Mamata once again conveyed the message of harmony among all religions saying, “I respect all religions and participate in their festivals because I believe faith belongs to individuals, but festivals belong to everyone.”

The CM said the initiative will not only enrich Bengal’s cultural and spiritual expanse but also strengthen local enterprise, foster employment, and amplify Bengal’s stature on the world tourism map. Durga Angan will stand as a luminous confluence of Bengal’s spirituality and culture, a testament to unity in diversity that will welcome millions from India and across the world, inviting them to witness art, heritage, devotion, and harmony.