Suvendu eats fish at Kalighat temple, says 'Bengali food habits do not dilute Sanatani traditions'

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ate fish and basanti pulao offered as bhog at Kolkata’s Kalighat temple during Kaushiki Amavasya, asserting that Bengali food traditions did not dilute Sanatani practices and that people were free to decide what they wanted to eat.

Adhikari visited the Kalighat temple on Thursday and partook of the traditional offering, which included sweets, basanti pulao and fish. A video showed the Chief Minister sitting on the floor with others and eating the meal with his hands. While non-vegetarian food inside temples is uncommon in several parts of India, offerings involving fish or meat form part of the religious traditions associated with some temples and forms of Shakta worship in Bengal.

‘I will eat what Bengalis eat’

Speaking after the visit, Adhikari defended Bengal’s culinary and religious traditions amid a debate triggered by remarks from Bageshwar Dham chief priest Dhirendra Krishna Garg, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba, against consumption of non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.

“People can eat whatever they want, we don’t control it. As a Bengali, I will eat what Bengalis eat,” Adhikari said. He pointed out that he had eaten the temple offering of fish and basanti rice but would observe different practices on Maha Ashtami.

“On Ashtami, I also offer pushpanjali and follow a sattvik diet. That does not dilute the Sanatani traditions,” he said. Adhikari said religious leaders were entitled to express their opinions, but indicated that dietary practices could vary according to local customs and traditions.

Bageshwar Baba remarks spark debate

The controversy began after Bageshwar Baba visited West Bengal last week for a three-day Hanumant Katha programme at Liluah in Howrah district. During his visit, he appealed to Benga