As Kolkata prepares for Durga Puja, the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) and UNESCO have jointly released new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for universal accessibility in pandals. The guidelines aim to ensure inclusive participation for people with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women and children.
According to the 2011 census, nearly 12 per cent of Kolkata’s population is above 60 years of age, underscoring the urgent need for such initiatives. With Durga Puja being inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021, the guidelines aim to make the festival a true reflection of Bengal’s culture.
Puja organisers have been instructed to work closely with civic authorities, Kolkata Police, fire and emergency services, and disaster management officials.
The Puja Committees are cautioned against blocking ramps with decorations, neglecting accessible toilets, or relying solely on audio announcements.
They have key responsibilities, which include integrating accessibility early by planning routes, seating, toilets, and signage during the design stage. These have to comply with mandatory minimums such as ensuring at least one accessible route, entrance, toilet, resting area, and refuge space.
They also have to engage Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in audits, monitoring, and feedback.
“Durga Puja is Sarbojanin Pujo — it belongs to everyone,” the SOP stated, highlighting that inclusivity is not just a matter of dignity but also a legal obligation under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016 and the National Building Code of India.
The SOP highlights safety measures such as marked emergency evacuation routes, audio-visual alarms, clearly identified refuge areas, and help desks staffed with trained volunteers.
The accessibility checklist for all the pandals includes: step-free entrances with ramps and handrails; drop-off/pick-up points marked within 30m of the entry; barrier-free routes that are 1.5-1.8m wide with anti-skid surfaces and tactile guiding blocks; step-free entrance/exit with ramps and handrails; unobstructed Sugamya paths of at least 1.5m inside pandals and resting zones with armrest seating every 30-50m.
Accessible toilets with grab bars, lever taps, and emergency alarms, drinking water points at multiple heights, clear viewing platforms for wheelchair users and elderly persons, demarcated zones for offering pushpanjali and special counters for Prasad distribution.
The pandals should have signage in Bengali, English, and Hindi with pictograms and tactile/Braille, tactile maps with QR codes at the entry, multilingual announcements repeated in multiple languages and trained volunteers for narration and ISL interpretation.
The volunteers, meanwhile, are yet to receive training in disability etiquette, basic Indian Sign Language (ISL), and emergency protocols. Aspirational recommendations include tactile maps, QR-code-based information, multilingual announcements, and ISL interpretation during rituals.
Additionally, the state capital also witnessed the inauguration of massArt’s Autumn Art Fair 2025 and the Preview Show of Durga Puja Art (PSDPA) at the historic Alipore Museum. The fair features pavilions on Bengal’s handicrafts, Durga Puja artistry, live performances, workshops, and culinary delights, running until September 22.
The event later moved to Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha, where the much-anticipated Preview Show was unveiled in the presence of Firhad Hakim, Minister Of Urban And Municipal Affairs and Kolkata Mayor; Indranil Sen, the Minister of State (IC), Department Of Tourism, Technical Education, Training & Skill Development Department & I&C.A; Tim Curtis, director, UNESCO South Asia Regional Office & UNESCO representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives & Sri Lanka; Kathy Giles-Diaz, consul general, US Consulate General, Kolkata; Haimanti Banerji, professor, Department Of Architecture And Regional Planning, associate dean, CE&T, deputy team leader, Centre Of Excellence In Urban Planning And Design, IIT Kharagpur.
The Accessibility Programme was launched alongside the Preview Show of Durga Puja Art (PSDPA) at the historic Alipore Museum, featuring 24 contemporary pujas and one Bonedi Bari puja. “This year, with the launch of the Accessibility Programme, we are proud to ensure that this celebration of art and faith is truly inclusive,” said Dhrubajyoti Bose Suvo, Secretary of mass Art. A highlight was the unveiling of the “enhancing accessibility” programme developed in collaboration with UNESCO and IIT Kharagpur, along with a special book on accessibility framework.
(Anisha Ghosh is an intern at the Kolkata office of The Indian Express)
An artist gives a final touch to the idol of the Goddess Durga ahead of the Durga Puja festival, in Kolkata on Thursday. (ANI Photo) 
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