Enhancing Universal Accessibility During Cultural Festivals

Every autumn, Bengal bursts into colour, rhythm, and devotion as Durga Puja fills the streets with art, music, and community. It was in this spirit that Durga Puja was inscribed in 2021 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Yet, the festival can only truly reflect its inclusive spirit when persons with disabilities can take part with dignity and ease. 

These SOPs for Making Durga Puja Accessible represent a decisive step toward addressing this gap. Developed through extensive consultations with puja organizers, accessibility experts, organizations of persons with disabilities, and community leaders, these SOPs translate the principles enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 into concrete, implementable actions that puja committees can adopt immediately.

The SOPs have been developed by UNESCO, UN in India under the technical lead of IIT Kharagpur.