The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal will provide financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each to 60 rath yatra committees, many of which are centuries-old, announced chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday. This is the first time the government is providing such financial assistance to rath yatra committees. (ANI) “The old rathas (chariots), particularly those made of wood, need renovation. I hope that the committees will use the money for the repair and renovation of the rathas,” Adhikari said. Adhikari also announced that helicopters will shower flower petals on devotees undertaking the 30-km long Shravan yatra at Tarakeshwar in Hooghly district this year. This is the first time the government is providing such financial assistance to rath yatra committees. Rath yatra is celebrated with much fanfare in many pockets across the state. Fairs are held in many places centering this festival. “Some of the rath yatra festivals, including Mahishadal in East Midnapore and Mahesh in Hooghly, are centuries-old. The previous government only used to send some traffic police personnel to these rath yatras. …