New Delhi: Bengal’s long standing debate over vegetarian and non vegetarian food during religious festivals has gained fresh attention after BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari participated in the traditional fish bhog at Kolkata’s Kalighat temple.
Adhikari visited the historic temple on the occasion of Kaushiki Amavasya and was seen having bhog that included a fish head, fried fish and basanti pulao. The meal reflects a long standing tradition at Kalighat, where fish and sacrificial goat meat are offered to Goddess Kali and subsequently consumed as bhog by devotees.
His visit came amid a growing controversy over comments by Bageshwar Dham priest Dhirendra Shastri, who had appealed to Bengali Hindus to avoid non vegetarian food during Durga Puja. He also called for meat and liquor shops to remain closed during the festival.
The remarks triggered criticism in Bengal, where fish and meat are deeply connected with the region’s food culture and, in certain Shakta traditions, religious practices as well.
The BJP has sought to distance itself from the idea that an outside religious figure should determine what people in Bengal eat. Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya said Bengalis would continue to eat fish and meat and argued that dietary choices could not be dictated by a religious leader from another region.
Adhikari also maintained that people were free to accept or reject Shastri’s personal views. He explained that his own food choices vary according to religious occasions, observing sattvik practices during certain festivals while consuming non vegetarian offerings associated with Goddess Kali.
The BJP also defended Adhikari’s participation in the traditional Kalighat bhog, saying it represented Bengal’s religious customs and way of life.
The episode has once again highlighted the distinct food traditions surrounding Hindu worship in Bengal, where vegetarian and non vegetarian practices can coexist within different religious customs.
