tathagataghosh Let me be one of the protesting voices. I also made my concerns known to the Kallol Puja Committee. I was in this email discussion with Amitabha-da Bagchi where we were wondering as to the cost of the Puja from which we can argue whether the price was too high or adequate. I would start from an argument that because this is a non-profit organization the price should not/need not be what the market will bear. The price of attending Kallol Durga Puja should not be like the price of oil- ie it should not be market driven it should be cost-based . What does everybody else feel Let me lay down a very simplistic calculation and then have people tell me that I am completely wrong. Let me estimate that Kallol plans a 50000 puja and raises about 10000 through vendors and the souvenir ads. That means 40000 needs to be funded through chaanda. If we have 400 paying families paying 100 each then we are covered. Let say we have only 300 paying families then cut out the ‘pork’ and try to save a 10000 there. We obviously do not need to be having ‘goat curry’ if it inflates the price. This line of logic can be continued by somebody who has the real numbers but I will not go further than this. If market forces do come into the picture then it is obvious there is a market/need for a less high-priced Puja within this area. Tathagata