Last Updated on September 20, 2025 6:13 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
R. Suryamurthy
The United Nations in India and UNESCO have unveiled guidelines aimed at making Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal more accessible and inclusive, in what officials said could become a model for other cultural festivals across the country.
The document, titled Enhancing Universal Accessibility during Cultural Festival – 2025 Edition Durga Puja in Kolkata, sets out standard operating procedures for festival organisers to improve infrastructure, communication and participation for people with disabilities, the elderly and others who face barriers.
The recommendations were developed after consultations with puja committees, accessibility experts and organisations of persons with disabilities, and draw on both the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and India’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016).
“Accessibility is not charity, it is good design for all,” said UN Resident Coordinator in India Shombi Sharp. “When persons with disabilities join fully in festivals like Durga Puja, the celebration becomes richer and more meaningful for the entire community.”
Among the measures suggested are ramps, sanitary facilities and seating areas that cater to different needs; sign language, Braille and audio formats for communication; volunteer training on disability awareness; and emergency preparedness protocols.
The guidelines come four years after UNESCO added Durga Puja in Kolkata to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, calling it “the best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and a thriving ground for collaborative artists and designers.”
Durga Puja, which begins this year on Sept. 28, draws millions of visitors to elaborately decorated pandals across the city and is seen as a symbol of Bengal’s living cultural heritage. Authorities say improving accessibility will allow people with disabilities and older citizens not just to attend but to participate actively in the celebrations.
“Durga Puja embodies the living heritage of Bengal. To safeguard it for the future, we must also ensure it is accessible for all,” said Tim Curtis, UNESCO’s South Asia director.
The Government of West Bengal welcomed the initiative. “When Durga Puja was inscribed on the UNESCO list, it signalled a shared responsibility. Inclusion and community participation are key to sustaining that recognition,” said Santanu Basu, the state’s principal secretary for information and cultural affairs.
According to the 2011 Census, 2.2% of India’s population are persons with disabilities while 8.6% are over 60. Organisers say accessibility measures will also benefit pregnant women, families with children and visitors unfamiliar with the city.
The UN and UNESCO said they hope the guidelines, once tested in Kolkata, can be adapted for other religious and cultural events nationwide, supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal pledge to “leave no one behind.”