The West Bengal Congress has filed police complaints against Dhirendra Shastri, head of the Bageshwar Dham temple, over his remarks asking Hindus in the state to avoid eating non vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
Congress leaders said Shastri’s comments could hurt the sentiments of Bengalis and create tension over the state’s food traditions. Complaints have reportedly been filed in districts across West Bengal, with the party seeking the registration of a first information report against him.
Congress Accuses Shastri of Insulting Bengali Culture
Speaking at an event in Kolkata on Sunday, Shastri said he did not like seeing what he described as “dirty” non vegetarian food being eaten during Durga Puja and at gatherings linked to the festival.
He also said that people who eat meat during Durga Puja “cannot be considered religious”. Shastri further said that meat should not be sold near idols during the festival.
Pradip Prasad, South Kolkata district Congress president, said the remarks could lead to “disharmony in the society, including division, which is against the democratic and peaceful spirit”.
Prasad also accused Shastri of making “vile” remarks about the food choices of people during the festival and said his language was “derogatory and insulting to Bengali culture”.
Meat and Fish Part of Bengal’s Durga Puja Traditions
Eating fish and meat during Durga Puja is common among sections of Bengali Hindus. Animal sacrifice is also followed as a religious practice by some Shakta communities.
The controversy comes ahead of this year’s Durga Puja, which will begin on October 6 and end on October 10.
The Trinamool Congress also criticised Shastri’s comments, accusing the BJP of trying to interfere with Bengal’s food culture.
“BJP wants to snatch fish and meat from the plates of Bengalis,” the party said on social media, while claiming that raids were being conducted at restaurants ahead of the festival.
The TMC said Bengalis “will not let go” if anyone tries to dictate what they should eat or how they should celebrate Durga Puja.
Bengal BJP Rejects Food Restrictions
The BJP’s West Bengal unit has also distanced itself from Shastri’s remarks.
State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said that food and clothing choices were matters of personal freedom.
“What one eats or wears is a personal choice,” Bhattacharya said. He added that Bengal has a diverse food culture and no religious leader or political figure has the right to decide what people should eat.
The controversy follows a recent appeal by the Vishva Hindu Parishad to Durga Puja organisers to follow what it described as traditional practices. The VHP suggested that non vegetarian food stalls be kept outside puja pandals, while clarifying that it was not calling for a complete ban on non vegetarian food.
Durga Puja in Kolkata was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.
