West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday visited Kolkata’s Kalighat Temple on the occasion of Kaushiki Amavasya and partook of the traditional fish bhog, drawing attention amid the ongoing debate over non-vegetarian food during religious festivals.
A video from his visit showed Adhikari sitting on the floor inside the temple premises and eating bhog that included a large fish head, fried fish and basanti pulao. Fish and meat are traditionally offered to Goddess Kali at Kalighat, with the offerings subsequently distributed among devotees as prasad.
Speaking to reporters after offering prayers, Adhikari described Kaushiki Amavasya as a significant occasion in Sanatan culture and said that the festival was being observed with devotion at major temples across the state, including Kalighat and Tarapith.
“I am a Sanatani Hindu. On Mahashtami, when I worship Maa Durga, I consume sattvik food. During Kartik month also, I consume sattvik food. At the same time, I consume non-vegetarian food such as goat meat offered to Maa Kali. Today, the bhog offered at the temple had fish head, fried fish, and basanti pulao. I ate that,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s public consumption of non-vegetarian bhog is being viewed as a political and cultural response to the ongoing debate over food choices during Durga Puja. The controversy stems from an appeal by Bageshwar Dham head priest Dhirendra Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Baba, to Bengali Hindus to shun non-veg food during Durga Puja.
Shastri had also called Bengali Hindus who consume non-veg during Durga Puja a “pakhandi” (hypocrite). “Who wants the sale of non-vegetarian food to stop? Please indicate this by turning on the lights of your mobile phones. This message needs to reach every person in West Bengal, and the government needs to be made aware of this issue. Meat and liquor shops in West Bengal should remain closed during Durga Puja,” Shastri said.
This infuriated the community that is known not just for consuming non-veg during Puja but also for offering it to the deity. The BJP, however, was quick in balancing public and ideological sentiments.
“Bageshwar Baba comes from another ‘dunia’. Bageshwar Baba has no right to decide what the people of Bengal will eat. Bengalis will eat fish and meat. Vivekananda has spoken in favour of Bengalis consuming meat and fish,” said the BJP’s Bengal chief Samik Bhattacharya.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said, “Let the controversy end where it should. At Kalighat, CM @SuvenduWB takes part in Maa Kali’s traditional Fish Bhog – respecting Bengal’s faith, traditions, and way of life. Under his leadership, the BJP will always stand firmly for Bengal’s interests, Bengal’s traditions, and what is right for Bengal.”
Adhikari ordered the arrest of those who burnt Bageshwar Baba’s photos during protests. Asked later about Shastri’s remark, he said he was entitled to his personal opinion, and people can either accept or reject it.
When tradition meets temple plate, even politics bows to the prasad of custom. Follow Dharmic News for more updates on Hindu community issues and global affairs.
