West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari presents a mace to Bageshwar Dham Sarkar Acharya Dhirendra Krishna Shastri throughout a three-day non secular programme, in Howrah, on September 4, 2026.
| Photograph Credit score: ANI
An argument has erupted in Bengal with calls from varied quarters for non-vegetarian meals to be evaded Durga Puja pandals. Hindutva organisations and spiritual preachers at the moment are interesting for less than vegetarian meals to be served close to pandals.
On August 26, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad issued an advisory stating that non-vegetarian meals ought to be evaded Durga Puja pandals to take care of the sanctity of the non secular pageant. Whereas the row over the advisory was raging, the chief priest of Bageshwar Dham, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, made an analogous attraction on Sunday.
“I’m interesting to the Hindus of Bengal, that in Navratri, even in the event you don’t preserve the idols of the Goddess, don’t promote non-veg close to the idols,” the self-styled godman stated in Kolkata.
Shastri’s comment is important as a result of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari not solely shared the stage with the preacher however inspired him to open a centre in West Bengal.
“Throughout Durga Puja, the federal government will work to guard the tradition of West Bengal and India. Baba Maharaj Ji, please open a middle right here. There must also be a Bageshwar Dham centre… That is the land of the saints. That is the land of non secular awakening,” the Chief Minister had stated.
The VHP advisory, which got here from Sanatan Sanskriti Sansad secretary Swami Nirgunanada throughout a gathering with Durga Puja organisers had said that the sanctity of Goddess’s idol have to be maintained and saved free from contact with non-vegetarian meals.
“It’s the obligation of Sanatanis to guard the sanctity of the idol and keep cleanliness in and across the pandal. If non-vegetarian meals is offered throughout the festivities, it ought to be restricted to designated areas away from the puja venue,” Swami Nirgunananda had stated. The VHP management, nevertheless, had stated that it’s not going to implement vegetarianism throughout the pageant.
Imposing vegetarianism
These feedback have triggered sharp reactions within the State, with many describing them as an try to impose vegetarianism. Throughout campaigning for the 2026 West Bengal Meeting polls, the BJP management tried laborious to persuade the citizens that the celebration was not in favour of imposing vegetarianism with celebration leaders displaying fish prominently.
Durga Puja in Kolkata was inscribed within the UNESCO’s Consultant Checklist of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2021. Over 40,000 neighborhood Durga Pujas are held throughout the State with 3,000 such pujas held in Kolkata alone. The Trinamool Congress authorities began the follow of giving money to each neighborhood puja in 2018. The BJP authorities is but to take a choice.
Whereas together with Durga Puja in Kolkata within the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, UNESCO highlighted the neighborhood side of the pageant the place “the divides of sophistication, faith and ethnicities collapse as crowds of spectators stroll round to admire the installations”.
Revealed – September 06, 2026 10:48 pm IST
