Durga Puja celebrations in jeopardy due to protests, sponsorship cuts in Kolkata | News from India

Corporates that have traditionally funded the pujas are now reluctant to take on sponsorship, fearing that large-scale advertising could damage their brand image at a time of public grief and outrage following the incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. This caution is reflected in the reduced sponsorship amounts and commitments, the report said.

The Forum for Durgotsab, which represents organisers of pujas in Kolkata, has reported that pujas in the city have so far received only 40 to 45 per cent of the usual sponsorship funds, compared to the 70 to 80 per cent that is usually secured at this time. This lack of sponsorship is affecting the organisers' ability to prepare the festival as planned, the report said.

Executives of several leading brands have indicated that they are being cautious when making sponsorship decisions.

The report quoted an executive of a major consumer electronics manufacturer as saying that the company had significantly reduced both the number of sponsored pujas and the sponsorship amounts compared to the previous year.

Saswata Basu, general secretary of the Forum for Durgotsab, said several sponsors had postponed or withdrawn their commitments, the report said. He said preparations for pandals, illuminations and Durga statues were completed in June and July, before the incident.

He further said, “The entire budget has been fixed accordingly. But now we are not getting any financial commitments from sponsors. It is worse than the Covid-19 year because then we had voluntarily cut the Puja budget.”

If we fail to secure last-minute sponsors, the financial impact could be felt in subsequent years, forcing organizers to take on private debt to cover costs, he said.

First published: September 18, 2024 | 1:23 p.m. IS