Mamata Banerjee sings ‘Jaago Durga’ in Mahalaya, residents ask for work instead

West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may be a fan of art and culture, but a recent video of her singing a Mahalaya song has faced criticism on social media, perhaps for its insensitive timing.

This Thursday marked the beginning of the ‘Devi Paksha’ for Bengalis in West Bengal and abroad with the early start of Mahalaya, the day celebrated as the precursor to Durga Puja. The festive date is often associated with the chanting of the “Chandi Path” and “agomoni” (welcome), passages and songs dedicated to the arrival of the goddess Durga. Many mark Mahalaya by singing popular songs like “Jaago Durga” (Wake up, Durga).

To mark the spirit of the occasion, Banerjee shared an audio clip in which he can be heard “Jago Durga” in Bengali. The clip was shared on his Facebook page on Thursday and has since received thousands of views.

However, not everyone shared the CM’s sincere delight, as many mentioned their current unemployment status and asked “Didi” to give them a job. From unemployed workers to teachers, many took to the thread of sharing their troubles with the Trinamool boss ahead of the holiday season.

Banerjee recently announced a monthly financial aid of 1,000 rupees and free housing for more than 8,000 Brahmin priests in the state. With an eye on polls, Banerjee also announced the mapping of religious sites for ‘Maha Tirtha Bhumi’ in West Bengal.