Kolkata’s Sahaj portal for Kali Puja permissions will open on October 26, with organisers required to follow a 20-point set of rules covering fire safety, crowd management, CCTV monitoring, noise limits and environmental compliance. Police officers in charge of local stations will be held responsible for violations by puja committees in their areas.
The online single-window system is being launched a day after Lakshmi Puja. A police official said the one-day delay from last year may have been linked to finalising additional rules and restrictions for Kali Puja. In 2025, 2,644 Kali Puja organisers registered through the portal.
The guidelines require puja committees to arrange separate entry and exit points, maintain alternative power sources and keep fire safety equipment, including sand-filled buckets and fire extinguishers, at pandals. Committees must also deploy trained volunteers to manage crowds and provide either 24-hour CCTV coverage or volunteer supervision until immersion.
Mobile toilets, particularly for women, and help desks near pandals have also been made mandatory. These requirements place responsibility for basic visitor facilities and on-site monitoring on organisers, alongside the permissions process administered through the portal.
The police have directed officers in charge to remind organisers that both the puja celebrations and immersion process must comply with court orders and administrative rules. A senior officer said the officers concerned would be held accountable if violations occurred.
The rules also impose restrictions on sound and fireworks. Loud or DJ music is prohibited, while only green firecrackers may be used during the specified time window. Firecrackers producing more than 90 decibels are not allowed, and crackers cannot be burst near electrical connections or on rooftops.
Kolkata Police has begun checking for illegal firecrackers at 15 checkpoints located at the city’s entry points. Police personnel have also been instructed to remain present at pandals during the main crowd periods, particularly from November 6 to 9 and on November 12, including after 11pm.
The Sahaj system links the permission process with operational responsibilities at individual pandals. Its rules require organisers to plan for emergency response, crowd movement, public conveniences, surveillance and environmentally compliant celebrations before the festival and immersion activities begin.
