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Today, as I laid the foundation stone of Durga Angan in New Town, I was overwhelmed with a sense of elation and fulfillment. In 2021, UNESCO honoured our beloved Durga Puja with the distinguished recognition of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, acknowledging its universal resonance as both a spiritual invocation and a cultural celebration. The ceremony reflected the true spirit of Bengal. People across faiths, castes, communities, cultures, and generations gathered in collective reverence. In this moment, I saw the essence of unity, devotion, and shared pride that defines our land. This day will be inscribed in the golden pages of Bengal’s history. Durga Angan will be built across 17.28 acres, with a total constructed area of nearly 2,00,000 square feet. The complex is envisioned as a yearlong sacred sanctuary, open 365 days, welcoming close to one lakh visitors every day. The central courtyard will accommodate 1,000 devotees at a time, allowing prayer to unfold in a shared spiritual congregation. A 20-foot-wide circumambulatory path will be adorned with 1,008 pillars and delicately sculpted arches. The main sanctum will rise to 54 metres, echoing the architectural grandeur of our spiritual texts. In adherence to sacred tenets, 108 divine idols and 64 lion sculptures will be consecrated within the complex. Beyond the principal mandap, the premises will include individual mandaps for the Singhadwara, the Pradakshina path, a sacred Kund, and shrines for Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartikeya, Goddess Lakshmi, and Goddess Saraswati. There will also be a dedicated space for prasad preparation and a cultural museum celebrating Bengal’s artistic and spiritual legacy. The entire temple complex will be landscaped with over 300 trees and 1,000 flowering plants. Designed as a gold-certified green building, the complex emphasises natural illumination, ventilation, and ecological balance, ensuring that divinity and nature breathe within the same sacred enclosure. A trust has been formed under the leadership of the Chief Secretary to oversee the upkeep, preservation, and management of this spiritual precinct. This initiative will not only enrich our cultural and spiritual expanse but also strengthen local enterprise, foster employment, and amplify Bengal’s stature on the world tourism map. Durga Angan will stand as a luminous confluence of Bengal’s spirituality and culture, a testament to unity in diversity that will welcome millions from India and across the world, inviting them to witness our art, heritage, devotion, and harmony. On the 5th of next month, I shall lay the foundation stone of the much-awaited Gangasagar Setu, and in the second week of next month, the foundation stone of the Mahakal Temple at Matigara, near Siliguri. These endeavours reaffirm our commitment to uplifting pilgrimage sites of every faith. We walk the path of unity, never division. I remain guided by the universal ideals of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, whose message of interfaith harmony lives at the core of Bengal’s soul. Every faith to me is sacred. Every community is equal. Humanity is the highest form of worship.