Economic Implications of Jagadhatri Puja: Festival-Led Tourism, Creative Industries and Sustainable Local Development in Chandannagar, West Bengal

Anudeb Das

Headmaster, Dabra High Madrasah

Independent Researcher

Abstract

Jagadhatri Pooja is the most prominent annual festival in Chandannagar, Hooghly, and it plays a major role in shaping the town’s economy, tourism image, and cultural identity. The celebration draws large numbers of visitors, increases spending on transport, food, lighting, decoration, accommodation, and local services, and creates temporary employment for artisans, vendors, and service workers In a town already known for its French colonial heritage and living cultural traditions, the festival adds a strong seasonal layer to tourism demand and strengthens Chandannagar’s branding as a heritage destination. This paper examines the festival as both a cultural event and an economic system, and argues that its benefits can be expanded through planned tourism management, heritage protection, and community participation.

Keywords: Jagadhatri Pooja, Chandannagar, festival tourism, local economy, heritage tourism, Hooghly, West Bengal