KOLKATA, Oct 25: Kojagari Lakshmi Puja was celebrated with religious fervour across West Bengal on Sunday, as households and community organisers offered prayers to Goddess Lakshmi, seeking prosperity, happiness and well-being.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the residence of Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) MP Sudip Bandopadhyay in Kolkata to participate in the festivities. The visit sparked speculation about possible political realignments ahead of the civic elections, but Adhikari dismissed the suggestions, describing his presence as a courtesy call.
Speaking to reporters after visiting Bandopadhyay’s residence in the Janbazar area of central Kolkata, the chief minister said the MP had invited him to attend the family’s Lakshmi Puja approximately a month earlier.
“It was a courtesy visit, as Sudipda had invited me to his household Lakshmi Puja a month ago. I offered prayers and ate naru,” Adhikari said, referring to the traditional sweet prepared with grated coconut and jaggery or sugar.
The chief minister also took a swipe at former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, claiming that she had not attended the celebrations at Bandopadhyay’s residence on previous occasions. He further noted that the MP was now an NDA partner and had participated in a breakfast meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, senior All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MP Sougata Roy described the annual Lakshmi Puja at Bandopadhyay’s residence as a longstanding tradition. However, he suggested that the latest developments could point towards a change in the MP’s political proximity.
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is observed on the full moon night of the Ashwin month in the Bengali calendar. The festival holds special significance in Bengal, where devotees worship Goddess Lakshmi, regarded as the deity of wealth, fortune and abundance.
A key tradition associated with the occasion is staying awake throughout the night. The name ‘Kojagari’ originates from the Sanskrit expression ‘Ko Jagarti’, meaning ‘Who is awake?’ According to popular belief, devotees who remain awake on this auspicious night receive the blessings of the goddess.
Across the state, families performed rituals, offered prayers and decorated their homes to welcome the deity. Traditional alpana designs, often depicting the footprints of Goddess Lakshmi, were drawn on floors and entrances. Devotees also prepared khichdi bhog as prasad for family members and visitors.
Community celebrations were organised in neighbourhoods, marketplaces and temporary pandals. Several Durga Puja marquees that remained standing after the recently concluded festivities were also used for Lakshmi Puja before being dismantled.
Khalna village in Howrah district witnessed an especially vibrant celebration, with more than 100 pujas organised by local clubs. Some organisers added creative themes and decorative elements to their pandals, attracting devotees from surrounding areas.
The festival once again highlighted Bengal’s rich cultural and religious traditions, bringing communities together through worship, food and neighbourhood celebrations. While the state marked the occasion with devotion, the chief minister’s visit to Bandopadhyay’s residence also drew political attention, adding a contemporary dimension to the day’s festivities.