sudipta From Dipak Chaudhuri: My association with Durga puja is from the first puja at Columbia university 1970.The donation expected at that time 5.Some people were reluctant to pay 5 at that time.Now suggested donation is 75 to 100.Some people still feel the pinched to pay that amount for family of two three four etc.With inflation cost of every thing is now ten fold and bringing professional artists from India it is competition now for entertainment cost has increased 100 since old days we did not pay our local artists. My suggestion will be as we pay for every good and service in our real life we should pay similarly during puja.The suggested price tag shall be for basic puja.Rest shall be for what you cosume.For dinner entertainment charge seperately.This is what is done during Banga Sanmillan.Puja committee can make some money from the vendors and use that for renting halls and cleanup operation. Dipak Choudhuri