Kolkata: Union home minister Amit Shah will attend the Mahalaya celebrations, scheduled to be held at Eden Gardens on Oct 10.This clears the speculation, previously claiming that prime minister Narendra Modi would grace the event.“We have got a tentative tour plan of the home minister visiting Kolkata on Mahalaya (Oct 10). It is unlikely that the PM and the home minister would be attending the same programme together unless it is of great importance. So, it has been presumed that PM will not be able to make it to the event. The home minister will be present,” said a senior Nabanna official. The state govt has planned a mega cultural programme at Eden Gardens for Mahalaya. PM Modi was invited to attend the event but there was no confirmation sent to Nabanna from the prime minister’s office regarding his visit. “We have been informed that the home minister will grace the programme and the schedule will be the same,” he added.Govt sources said the Eden event will have 6,000 artistes and 3,000 ‘dhakis’ performing, besides a light and sound laser show, a drone show, followed by fireworks. Shah may inaugurate five Durga Pujas, including Sreebhumi Sporting, Suruchi Sangha, Santosh Mitra Square, Chetla Agrani, and Tridhara Sammilani.Before the event, a roadshow—featuring 23 makeshift pavilions— will be held on Red Road. Shah will be accompanied by CM Suvendu Adhikari for the roadshow. The event will be telecast live at 35 locations around the city. Entry to the Eden Gardens will be by invitation only. Shantanu Maitra, Shaan, Laganjita, Antara Mitra, and Kaushiki Chakraborty will perform along with folk artistes and band ‘Dohar.’
