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

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari presents a mace to Bageshwar Dham Sarkar Acharya Dhirendra Krishna Shastri during a three-day spiritual programme, in Howrah, on September 4, 2026. | Photo Credit: ANI A controversy has erupted in Bengal with calls from various quarters for non-vegetarian food to be kept away from Durga Puja pandals. Hindutva organisations and religious preachers are now appealing for only vegetarian food to be served near pandals.On August 26, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad issued an advisory stating that non-vegetarian food should be kept away from Durga Puja pandals to maintain the sanctity of the religious festival. While the row over the advisory was raging, the chief priest of Bageshwar Dham, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, made a similar appeal on Sunday.“I am appealing to the Hindus of Bengal, that during Navratri, even if you don’t keep the idols of the Goddess, do not sell non-veg near the idols,” the self-styled godman said in Kolkata.Shastri’s remark is significant because Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari not only shared the stage with the preacher but encouraged him to open a centre in West Bengal.“During Durga Puja, the government will work to protect the culture of West Bengal and India. Baba Maharaj Ji, please open a center here. There should also be a Bageshwar Dham centre... This is the land of the saints. This is the land of spiritual awakening,” the Chief Minister had said.The VHP advisory, which came from Sanatan Sanskriti Sansad secretary Swami Nirgunanada during a meeting with Durga Puja organisers had stated that the sanctity of Goddess’s idol must be maintained and kept free from contact with non-vegetarian food.“It is the duty of Sanatanis to protect the sanctity of the idol and maintain cleanliness in and around the pandal. If non-vegetarian food is sold during the festivities, it should be restricted to designated areas away from the puja venue,” Swami Nirgunananda had said. The VHP leadership, however, had said that it is not going to enforce vegetarianism during the festival.Imposing vegetarianismThese comments have triggered sharp reactions in the State, with many describing them as an attempt to impose vegetarianism. During campaigning for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls, the BJP leadership tried hard to convince the electorate that the party was not in favour of imposing vegetarianism with party leaders displaying fish prominently.Durga Puja in Kolkata was inscribed in the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2021. Over 40,000 community Durga Pujas are held across the State with 3,000 such pujas held in Kolkata alone. The Trinamool Congress government started the practice of giving cash to every community puja in 2018. The BJP government is yet to take a decision.While including Durga Puja in Kolkata in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, UNESCO highlighted the community aspect of the festival where “the divides of class, religion and ethnicities collapse as crowds of spectators walk around to admire the installations”. Published - September 06, 2026 10:48 pm IST