Aditi Sen As an attendee to the Pujo I have always felt the entire Puja operation highlights the lack of proper organization at all levels If an event costs me about 100 to attend with my family it better be good. I mean ‘good’. You cannot expect that people will pay that money when all the ‘Pujo’ organizers have to show is complete chaos at the dinner place entertainment with poor acoustics and noisy audience. For one thing the ‘pujo’ itself doesn’t feel like ‘pujo’ at all. The atmosphere is completely chaotic. From the suggestion box: One needs to distinguish between different kind of attendees. Not everybody wants to see the entertainment show. Give them a viable option to opt out. For those who want to see the entertainment give them the best experience their money can buy under similar ticket prices. Here you are catering to essetially a savvy consumer only on the basis of ‘ back-home sentiment’ That cannot work in the long run. Here is my suggestion. 1. For basic pujo attendance charge as little as you can: about 5 per person . That should cover pujo and prosad not dinner with goat meat . For that money you owe the attendees a good decoration of the Pujo pandel pujo anjali dhunuchi naach aarati shindoor khela — every thing that is associated with proper event of Durga puja. This way you attract and satisfy those people who are trying to enjoy ‘puja’ only. 2. For the nightly entertainments and dinner along with basic pujo package: charge whatever you desire because they are the commited lot. This way you can attract and retain those who are interested in the complete pujo package: entertainment and all. Have an entirely separate ticketing system. And “inform’ the people of their choices before the event. Categorizing your target market/customers in a clear and concise way will stop ‘piggy back rides’ and yet bring more donations in the long run. To achieve this goal I would create two entirely separate sub committees to oversee the functions. The pujo sub committee should be responsible for making “the core pujo experience the best ever”. While the entertainment subcommitee should be responsible for the entertainment and dinner only. But whatever you do please do it well Compare your organizational performance with other American events and don’t give that ‘better than other Indian’ analogy. You are in America