Bageshwar Baba's Durga Puja Vegetarian Call Sparks West Bengal Row
A religious preacher's call to ban non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja in West Bengal has triggered strong political backlash. Leaders from both ruling and opposition parties rejected outside interference in traditional Bengali dietary habits.
A major controversy has erupted in the Indian state of West Bengal following remarks made by Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, the preacher from Madhya Pradesh known as 'Bageshwar Dham'. During a religious gathering held in Lilluah, Howrah district, Shastri strongly criticized the consumption of non-vegetarian food near festival marquees during Navaratri and urged local Hindus to abstain from it entirely.
Addressing the gathering, Shastri expressed his deep displeasure over the culinary practices surrounding the celebrations, stating that he finds it entirely unappealing when non-vegetarian food is prepared near the festival pavilions. He called upon all Hindus in the state to awaken and explicitly demanded that those who continue to consume non-vegetarian food should be ostracized, labeling them as non-religious and hypocritical.
The event, which took place on September 7, 2025, was attended by notable political figures, including West Bengal Legislative Assembly Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. The presence of senior political personalities at the gathering has further amplified the political dimensions of the ongoing public debate surrounding the preacher's declarations.
The remarks drew sharp and immediate pushback from multiple political quarters across the state. Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra fiercely contested the assertions, questioning whether people should be barred from eating chicken rolls or boiled eggs during the celebrations. Mitra defended traditional practices by noting that offerings of fish and meat are a customary part of worship at numerous holy sites, including Tarapith, and emphasized that such directives infringe upon democratic rights while questioning why religion and politics are being intertwined.
Similarly, Bharatiya Janata Party state president Samik Bhattacharya pushed back against the external directives, asserting that the centuries-old dietary habits and cultural traditions of the Bengali people will not be altered by the advice of any outsider saint or ascetic. Bhattacharya defended authentic regional traditions by famously remarking that eating fried flatbreads known as luchi on Ashtami and tender mutton on Navami is the genuine custom of Bengalis, and that the community will continue to cherish this heritage.
Adding to the chorus of dissent, Tathagata Roy emphasized that religious diversity is the foundational essence of Hinduism. Roy openly stated that he consumes fish and meat even during Navaratri and does not feel any necessity to offer explanations to anyone for his personal choices.
