Kolkata: Thanking UNESCO for recognising Durga Puja as an intangible cultural heritage, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday described Durga Puja as an emotion that rises above parochial barriers.
Taking to twitter, Banerjee said, "Durga Puja is an emotion that rises above parochial barriers and brings us together. It unites the magnificence of art with spirituality."
“We thank @UNESCO for recognising Durga Puja as an intangible cultural heritage and honouring the labour of love of everyone involved,” she added.
"Kolkata’s Durga Puja has been accorded the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage Tag’ by UNESCO, which is a proud moment for all of us," said Banerjee on Wednesday.
"In order to celebrate the honour bestowed on our Durga Puja, we have organised a mega rally on September 1," she said.
"Our Durga Utsav, this year, is starting a month ahead. We will all get together and thank UNESCO tomorrow (Thursday). Everyone is invited to be part of the rally, which will begin at 2 pm from Jorasanko Thakurbari," she added.
"All those who have difficulty walking, we have made arrangements for your seating too. We will not just thank UNESCO, we will also thank the people of Bengal, the Durga Puja committees, the idol makers, and everyone else. Tomorrow’s festivities will be held across the State. Puja committees across districts will be celebrating the event. The rally for Salt Lake, Howrah Urban and Rajarhat will be celebrated along with Kolkata’s event," she said.
"From 2 pm onwards, we will start the rally on foot from Thakurbari and traverse through seven wards before meeting up at the Red Road. There, arrangements have been made for the seating of senior citizens too. Cultural artists will be present at the rally tomorrow," she stated.
"People of all religion, caste, creed will be part of the event. We will all get together and celebrate as one, because I believe, religion is personal, but festivals are for all," the chief minister added. (UNI)