India
West Bengal Minister Signals Possible Lift of Court Ban on Chhath Puja at Rabindra Sarobar
The West Bengal government may allow Chhath Puja celebrations at the Rabindra Sarobar lake, Minister Agnimitra Paul said on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. This comes despite a National Green Tribunal order that had prohibited the festivities at the lake, an order upheld by the Calcutta High Court and later by the Supreme Court of India. The restrictions were imposed to protect the lake’s ecology from ritual offerings and immersion materials used during the festival.
"Why can’t Rabindra Sarobar be allowed? Where will the people of the locality go? We will take precautions and remove everything immediately and not create any pollution. The Chief Minister also wants this. But stopping Hindus from their rituals, we will not allow this like the last government," Ms. Paul asked while inspecting various Ganga ghats on Wednesday for upcoming Chhath Puja preparations. Other senior officials were also present.
Subhas Dutta, a senior environmental activist, told The Hindu that the lake is part of a national conservation plan and that funds are being released to protect it. He questioned how the same government could permit festivals that could harm the ecology. Dutta, who helped include Rabindra Sarobar in the conservation plan, warned that a footfall of over 40,000 people on the two days of Chhath Puja could have major negative impacts.
Rabindra Sarobar, often called the lungs of the city, is a popular spot for morning walkers, nature lovers, and tourists, and its surrounding green park hosts many migratory birds in winter. After a 2017 court order barred Chhath Puja at the 73‑acre waterbody, local devotees violated the order for several years. Firecrackers used during the festival produce sound and smoke, raising environmental concerns in the ecologically sensitive zone. The then Trinamool Congress government imposed stricter rules and enforced them heavily from 2019. Environmental activists and morning walker groups had also campaigned for the ban to protect the lake.
Chhath Puja, dedicated to the Sun god, will be observed on November 15 and 16.