Durga Puja Dhak Record: 3,000 dhakis reportedly perform together at Eden Gardens during Kolkata’s Uma Agamani celebrations, as questions emerge over government spending.
Qalam Times News Network
Kolkata | October 11, 2026
The Durga Puja Dhak Record became the centrepiece of Kolkata’s grand celebrations as 3,000 dhakis (traditional Bengali drummers) reportedly performed together at Eden Gardens on Saturday during the state government’s ‘Uma Agamani’ programme. Organised at the beginning of the Devi Paksha, the event marked the ceremonial opening of the Durga Puja festivities and combined traditional music, dance, drone displays and fireworks in a large-scale cultural spectacle.
The reported Durga Puja Dhak Record also brought international recognition to the event, with the Guinness World Records certificate reportedly presented to the organisers. More than 1,000 dancers joined the drummers for the cultural performances, turning the Eden Gardens gathering into a celebration of Bengal’s religious traditions and artistic heritage. However, the precise record category and the official Guinness verification details should be confirmed against the organisation’s published records.
‘Uma Agamani’ Opens Durga Puja Celebrations at Eden Gardens
The programme, organised by the West Bengal government, took place at Eden Gardens as the state began its Durga Puja celebrations on the occasion of Mahalaya and the start of Devi Paksha. The event brought together traditional Bengali cultural performances and modern visual effects, with the collective dhak performance serving as its principal attraction.
Although Eden Gardens hosted the main programme, the festive atmosphere extended into the surrounding areas. Several themed installations celebrating the distinctive cultural identities of different districts of West Bengal were reportedly set up along Red Road.
Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari walked from the themed installations towards Eden Gardens to attend the programme. He was accompanied by senior government officials and other dignitaries, including Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal, Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh, Public Works Minister Ajay Poddar, Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Pal and actress Rituparna Sengupta, according to the supplied report.
The programme began with an address by the Chief Minister, followed by speeches from Governor R. N. Ravi and the Chief Secretary. Rajya Sabha MP Shamik Bhattacharya, Rahul Sinha, state minister Dilip Ghosh, Kartik Maharaj of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha’s Beldanga branch, and monks associated with the Ramakrishna Mission were also reported to have attended.
Three Thousand Dhakis and More Than a Thousand Dancers
The simultaneous performance by 3,000 dhakis was the defining feature of the evening. Their rhythmic drumming was accompanied by performances from more than 1,000 dancers, creating a large-scale presentation of Bengal’s cultural traditions.
Programme host and actress Sauraseni Maitra reportedly described the gathering of 3,000 drummers at Eden Gardens on Mahalaya as an exceptional achievement. The event was subsequently associated with recognition from Guinness World Records, and the Chief Secretary presented a certificate to the Chief Minister on stage.
The record claim is a significant part of the event’s public presentation. For an independently verifiable account, the exact record title, the evidence accepted by Guinness World Records and the official confirmation of the number of participating drummers would need to be checked against the organisation’s records.
Drone Show Brings Goddess Durga to Life in the Night Sky
Beyond the traditional music and dance, the programme featured an elaborate drone display that illuminated the evening sky above Eden Gardens. According to the report, the aerial light formations depicted Goddess Durga in her Mahishasuramardini form, recalling the goddess’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
A special fireworks display added to the spectacle. The musical programme included performances by composer Shantanu Moitra, singer Shaan and artists from the Dohar band.
The combination of traditional dhak rhythms, classical and contemporary performances, aerial visuals and fireworks was designed to give the festival opening a distinctive public character while placing Bengal’s cultural heritage at the centre of the celebrations.
Government Spending Triggers Political Debate
Despite the scale of the celebrations, the event also prompted questions about public expenditure. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) reportedly alleged that the state government had spent approximately ₹167 crore on the programme. A detailed official expenditure statement was not publicly available in the supplied report, and the figure could not be treated as independently verified on that basis.
The opposition criticism also drew comparisons with the Durga Puja Carnival previously held on Red Road after Vijayadashami. According to the TMC’s claim, the earlier event had cost approximately ₹50 crore annually and was organised under the initiative of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The carnival had regularly featured prominent actors and actresses from the Bengali film industry. This year’s celebrations, however, began on Mahalaya, and the report noted that the presence of Tollywood personalities on the Eden Gardens stage appeared more limited.
The contrast between the two formats has become part of the political discussion surrounding the celebrations. While the government-backed programme showcased a large cultural production and a reported record-setting gathering of drummers, critics questioned whether the scale of public spending was justified.
The ₹167 crore figure remains an allegation attributed to the TMC rather than an established final expenditure. An itemised government account would be necessary to assess the actual cost, the services included and how the amount compares with earlier celebrations.
Cultural Achievement and Accountability in Focus
The ‘Uma Agamani’ programme brought together traditional Bengali music, dance, religious symbolism and modern spectacle to mark the beginning of the Durga Puja season. The reported participation of 3,000 dhakis gave the event a distinctive cultural identity, while the drone show and fireworks added to its visual appeal.
At the same time, the political debate over expenditure has placed transparency and accountability alongside cultural achievement in the public discussion. The final assessment of the event will depend not only on its cultural impact and any verified world-record recognition, but also on the publication of reliable information about its cost.
For Kolkata, where Durga Puja is both a major religious celebration and a defining cultural occasion, the event has opened the festive season with an ambitious public programme—and a parallel debate over the use of public funds.
