Religious leader urges Hindus to shun meat at Durga Puja, sparking controversy in West Bengal
Dhirendra Shastri, head of Bageshwar Dham, called on Hindus to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja, prompting backlash from political parties and the public.
At a Kolkata event, Dhirendra Shastri, the chief of the Bageshwar Dham temple, urged Hindus to refrain from eating non-vegetarian dishes during the upcoming Durga Puja and to boycott those who serve such food near the goddess’s idol. He described meat consumption at the festival as "dirty" and called for a boycott of vendors. The Trinamool Congress, citing a recent meeting between Shastri and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, claimed the BJP aims to remove fish and meat from Bengali plates and said raids on restaurants were underway.
BJP leader Tathagata Roy dismissed Shastri’s stance, emphasizing personal dietary choice and rejecting the notion of "half-believers" in Hindutva. Former TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta warned that any attempt to dictate how Bengalis celebrate Durga Puja threatens cultural identity. The Vishva Hindu Parishad, part of the RSS-led Hindutva bloc, asked puja committees to locate non-vegetarian stalls outside pandals but did not demand a completely vegetarian event.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights tensions between religious authority, cultural traditions, and political agendas in Bengal.
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