Story perspectives

Kolkata Puja Families Reject Vegetarian-Only Demand, FIRs Follow

By Drooid · Sep 13, 2026, 10:36 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Bageshwar Baba Rejected

Kolkata’s Bonedi Bari Durga Puja families reject Bageshwar Baba’s vegetarian-only demand.
Srimant Roy Chowdhury says the 417-year-old puja will not change because of outsiders.
Bageshwar Baba labels non-vegetarian puja food “dirty” and its eaters “pakhandis”.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ate fish bhog at Kalighat and called the preacher’s view personal.

Summary

Police FIRs

Police lodged an FIR at Bhowanipore station against a man for burning Bageshwar Baba’s picture.
Kolkata Congress general secretary Atanu Das was arrested and booked for promoting religious hatred after the protest.
Police also filed FIRs against Congress activists Ashutosh Chattopadhyay and Pradip Prasad for alleged public harassment.
Minister Suvendu Adhikari linked the controversy to declining Congress votes and said the party will contest Reginagar by-polls on October 6.

History

Historical Context

On 6 December 1992, VHP, BJP and RSS activists razed the 16th-century Babri Masjid, sparking riots that killed more than 2,000 people across cities such as Mumbai and Delhi. The episode entrenched communal rhetoric in Indian electoral battles, a pattern echoed today in Kolkata where Bageshwar Baba’s vegetarian demand led to Congress arrests and Suvendu Adhikari’s political commentary.

1 of 3

Bageshwar Baba Rejected

Kolkata’s Bonedi Bari Durga Puja families reject Bageshwar Baba’s vegetarian-only demand.
Srimant Roy Chowdhury says the 417-year-old puja will not change because of outsiders.
Bageshwar Baba labels non-vegetarian puja food “dirty” and its eaters “pakhandis”.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ate fish bhog at Kalighat and called the preacher’s view personal.

1 / 3