Meenakshi Lekhi, a union minister, took a shot at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on September 23, calling it horrendous that a state administration that banned Durga Puja and idol immersion was given credit for the festival’s inclusion on UNESCO’s list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Speaking at a news conference, she revealed that the Ministry of Culture has also requested that Gujarat’s Garba dance be added to the list of the world’s intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
Mamata Banerjee organized a gathering earlier this month to mark the addition of Durga Puja in Kolkata to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Minister of State for Culture, Ms. Lekhi, made fun of the West Bengal chief minister, saying that Mamta must be very busy and the counsel she is getting from her advisors is doubtful.
She claimed that in 2019 the culture ministry submitted a proposal, which was approved in December of that same year, to add Durga Puja to the UNESCO list.
The MoS continued, saying that Durga Puja’s inclusion on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage was a source of pride for the entire nation of India and that politics on it was wrong.
She added it was disgusting that a state government that had outlawed idol immersion and Durga Puja was given credit for the achievement.
She added that Durga Puja was just as significant in southern and western India as it was in eastern India, saying that all of the nation’s customs should be respected in unison.
On October 24, Ms. Lekhi will travel to Kolkata to honor 30 artists and artisans, including dhakis, idol-makers, pandal-makers, and others connected to the Durga Puja holiday.
News Mania Desk
