A number of associations of tourism stakeholders have drawn up plans to provide opportunities for visitors to see Durga Pujas at different locations during their trips to north Bengal and Sikkim.

The Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network (HHTDN) and the Association for Conservation and Tourism (ACT) have taken such an initiative.

“Durga Puja has become one of the biggest festivals of every Indian, especially Bengalis. This year, we have drawn up plans to enable tourists to enjoy the festival during their visits,” said Samrat Sanyal, general secretary, HHTDN.

According to him, HHTDN is planning to take around 300 tourists to different puja pandals.

“We will take tourists from the western Dooars to Jalpaiguri palace where the puja has been held for years. Tourists staying near the Jaldapara National Park and other locations in the eastern Dooars can see Debibari, the Durga Puja in Cooch Behar that was started by the royal family,” added Sanyal.

The association, he said, will also arrange “bhog” for tourists.

“In north Bengal, Durga Puja is held at many houses. Tourists, especially those from other states and abroad, can visit these places to have an authentic experience of the festival. They will get a chance to relish the delectable platters served as ‘bhog’,” said Sanyal.

The tourism stakeholders said after the flash flood in Sikkim and north Bengal, around 35 per cent of tourists had cancelled their trips to the Himalayan state while another 20 per cent had rescheduled the visits or changed their destinations.

“However, we are expecting a steady footfall of tourists in the Darjeeling hills and the Dooars,” said a hotelier based in Siliguri.

The ACT, on the other hand, has come up with some attractive ideas for tourists visiting north Bengal during Durga Puja.

“We have plans to give ‘Puja experience’ to around 7,000 tourists a day. We will serve them Bengali food and they can also go pandal-hopping in areas where they are staying during the trip, including tea gardens and forest villages, to experience the rural pujas of north Bengal,” said Raj Basu, who is associated with ACT.

He said a special Durga Puja menu with Calcutta cuisine would be available at Ishti Kutum of Jhandi in Kalimpong.

“Sweets and lunch with mutton and fish will be served at the Neora Valley Jungle camp at Kolakham. Similar authentic Bengali dishes will be on the menu at a number of hotels in Gangtok and Pelling in Sikkim,” said Basu.

In the hills, he said, tourists will be guided to venues like the NN Memorial Bengali Hindu Hall in Darjeeling and the Raj Rajeshwari Hall in Kurseong where Durga
Puja has been held for years.

“The idea is to ensure that tourists get a chance to join the largest celebration of Bengal,” Basu said.