Paid Coupons, Special Passes At Udharbond Big Budget Durga Puja Draw Flak From Devotees

Udharbond, known for its big-budget Durga Puja, has repeatedly become the subject of conversation because of its special passes and coupon-based discrimination. The Udharbond Kalibari Road Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee has come under criticism from visitors over its alleged coupon-based entry system and special passes, with devotees fuming that the arrangements have resulted in long waiting hours, overcrowded queues and difficulties for families visiting the pandal together.

Amid the festive atmosphere of Durga Puja, when thousands of people visit pandals across Silchar to witness elaborate decorations, themed installations and beautifully crafted idols, some visitors have alleged that the arrangements at the Udharbond Kalibari Road pandal are giving preferential treatment to those willing to pay for special access.

According to visitors, separate entry queues have been arranged for men and women, while coupons reportedly priced at Rs. 50 and Rs. 100, along with special passes, offer a separate entry arrangement and priority access. The system has triggered resentment among devotees who say they are forced to wait for extended periods in crowded queues despite coming to the pandal with their families.

One devotee, expressing frustration over the arrangements, said that better crowd management could have been implemented instead of relying on coupons and special passes.

“Because of these special passes, for us with general crowd who are with Kripon (Poor in Bengali) coupon, what happens to us? We wait for long hours in the queue. Those who buy the coupons feel entitled to wait for a long time inside the pandal to take a good look at the idols and the decorations; on the contrary, we wait outside in the packed queue, elbowing each other. They don’t let more than 3-4 people at a time who have no passes. Ladies and gents have different lines, and so if I come here with my wife, I can’t see the puja with her, because her line and my line are not the same, but that is not the case for the special pass entries,” the devotee fumed.

The allegations have raised questions about the balance between crowd management and the commercialisation of public religious celebrations. While large-budget pujas often attract enormous crowds, visitors argue that effective queue management, regulated entry and adequate crowd-control measures should be the priority rather than arrangements that appear to favour those paying for special access.

For many devotees, visiting Durga Puja pandals is an annual family tradition, offering an opportunity to enjoy the celebrations and seek the blessings of Goddess Durga. They argue that prolonged waiting, overcrowded queues and the separation of family members undermine the very experience they come to enjoy.

Visitors have called for improved crowd management and equal treatment for devotees, irrespective of whether they purchase special passes. They have also questioned whether the existing arrangements adequately serve the interests of ordinary visitors.

The controversy has once again brought the question of commercialisation during Durga Puja into focus. As the festival draws large crowds to popular pandals across Silchar, visitors are asking whether the arrangements are designed primarily to ensure a smooth and safe darshan for everyone or whether paid access is creating a divide between devotees.