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Svayam, UN India, Unesco Bring Accessible Durga Puja In Delhi

Delhi’s Pandara Road Puja adopts UN- Unesco accessibility guidelines, setting a model for inclusive cultural celebrations across India

Accessibility took centre stage at this year’s Durga Puja celebrations in the capital as Svayam, an accessibility organisation, joined hands with the Pandara Road Puja Committee, UN India and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to introduce inclusive facilities at one of Delhi’s most prominent pandals.

The 70th edition of the Pandara Road Puja was inaugurated in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Svayam founder-chairperson Sminu Jindal, and Radhika Kaul Batra, Head of Office at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO). The organisers showcased measures such as ramp access for Pushpanjali, sign language support, colour-contrasting step edges, a medical room with accessible entry, and dining areas fitted with ramps. An accessible washroom and Braille signage are also being developed to further assist visitors with disabilities and the elderly.

The initiative builds on a broader national effort. Earlier in September, UN India and Unesco unveiled a standard operating procedure (SOP) for enhancing accessibility during Durga Puja in Kolkata. The SOP, drafted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in consultation with organisations of persons with disabilities including Svayam, was implemented across 24 pandals in the city through Unesco’s partner massArt. The guidelines set out temporary ramps, clear pathways, accessible toilets and resting areas as essential features for inclusive cultural spaces.

At Pandara Road, the Hindi version of the SOP was released, aimed at encouraging local committees to adopt the measures with ease. Batra said the effort turned the principle of ‘leave no one behind’ into practice, enriching cultural traditions by making them welcome to all.

Jindal described accessibility as an equaliser, noting that inclusive design transforms festivals into experiences of dignity and belonging. Gautam Bose, president of the Pandara Road Puja Committee, called the adoption of the SOP a highlight of their landmark year, reflecting decades of work to ensure the event remains open to the differently abled and elderly.

With the framework already in use in both Delhi and Kolkata, Svayam and its partners signalled their intent to guide organisers across India in making cultural events barrier-free and inclusive.

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