Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s decision to partake in fish bhog at Kolkata’s Kalighat Temple has added a fresh political twist to the ongoing controversy over Bageshwar Baba Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s remarks on non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
Adhikari visited the historic Kali temple on Thursday, September 10, on the occasion of Kaushiki Amavasya. After offering prayers, flowers, sweets and other puja items to Goddess Kali, he accepted the temple’s traditional bhog, which included a fish head, fried fish and basanti pulao. Reports said the wider spread also included vegetables, dal, paneer and other dishes.
The timing of the meal has drawn attention because it comes days after Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba, triggered a backlash in Bengal by speaking against non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja. His comments were criticised by several political leaders and sections of Bengali society, who argued that food traditions during the festival vary from family to family and are deeply connected with the region’s cultural identity.
The controversy has also exposed differences within the BJP’s Bengal unit. State BJP leaders, including Samik Bhattacharya and others, have sought to distance themselves from any attempt to dictate Bengali dietary practices, stressing that religious leaders cannot impose personal food preferences on an entire community.
Adhikari’s Kalighat visit consequently carries significance beyond the temple ritual. By accepting fish as prasad at one of Bengal’s most prominent Shakti shrines, he appeared to underline the state’s distinctive religious traditions at a time when the debate over vegetarianism and non-vegetarian food has become politically charged.
The dispute has meanwhile widened beyond statements. A Congress protest against Shastri’s remarks led to a police case, while a Congress leader was arrested after protesters allegedly burned pictures of the religious preacher. Adhikari has defended action against those involved in the protest.
Shastri has since sought to clarify his position, saying his comments were aimed at opposing animal violence and sacrifice rather than insulting any particular religious tradition.
With Durga Puja approaching, the debate is now as much about Bengal’s cultural identity as it is about food. And Adhikari’s fish bhog at Kalighat has ensured that the political temperature around the issue is unlikely to cool anytime soon.
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