Call to keep Durga Pujas in West Bengal vegetarian kicks up a storm

A controversy has emerged in Bengal regarding the serving of non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja celebrations. Religious organizations and preachers are advocating for the removal of non-vegetarian food from Durga Puja pandals to preserve the sacredness of the festival. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad issued a directive on August 26, urging Hindu communities in West Bengal to refrain from selling non-vegetarian food near the idols.

Similarly, the chief priest of Bageshwar Dham, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, echoed this sentiment, appealing to Bengali Hindus not to sell non-veg items near the idols during Navratri. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari endorsed the preacher's plea, vouching for the protection of West Bengal's cultural heritage during the festival. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad appealed to Sanatan Sanskriti Sansad secretary Swami Nirgunanada, who stated that it is the responsibility of Sanatanis to safeguard the sanctity of the idol and maintain cleanliness around the pandal.

However, VHP leadership clarified that they are not enforcing vegetarianism during the festival. The BJP, during its electoral campaign for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls, cautioned against imposing vegetarianism, displaying fish prominently to contradict any such allegations. Durga Puja in Kolkata was recognized by UNESCO in December 2021 as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, with over 40,000 community Durga Pujas held across the state, including 3,000 in Kolkata alone.

The Trinamool Congress government initiated the practice of providing financial assistance to community pujas in 2018, while the BJP government has yet to formulate a stance on the matter.