Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari offered prayers at Kolkata’s historic Kalighat Temple on the auspicious occasion of Kaushiki Amavasya on Thursday, partaking of the temple’s traditional fish offering and placing regional dietary customs at the centre of an escalating cultural discourse. Following traditional rituals dedicated to Goddess Kali, the Chief Minister was served the customary temple prasad consisting of basanti pulao, fried fish, and fish head. The gesture attracted widespread attention across the state, coming on the heels of controversial remarks by Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Krishna Shastri urging Bengali Hindus to abstain from non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
Addressing journalists outside the shrine following his prayers, Adhikari described Kaushiki Amavasya as a pivotal observance within Sanatan culture, observing that religious ceremonies were proceeding simultaneously with immense devotion across prominent Shakti peeths in the state, including Kalighat and Birbhum’s Tarapith. Elaborating on the ongoing debate surrounding festive diets, he asserted that traditional dietary practices and religious piety comfortably coexist within Bengali society. Adhikari stated that while he personally follows a strictly vegetarian satvik diet on Pushpanjali Ashtami and throughout the holy month of Kartik, he simultaneously embraces consecrated fish and goat sacrifice offerings as an inseparable part of regional Shakta worship.
Emphasising the enduring spiritual heritage of the region, the Chief Minister noted that Kolkata and the wider state draw profound inspiration from spiritual luminaries including Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Recalling his political journey, Adhikari highlighted that he had sought the blessings of the Mother at Kalighat when his candidacy was announced in Bhawanipur, praying for the enduring welfare, peace, and prosperity of the people. He added that respected religious leaders are entitled to their personal beliefs, but individual devotion across Bengal remains guided by centuries-old temple conventions.
Thousands of devotees converged on Kalighat and Tarapith to participate in Kaushiki Amavasya rituals, where offerings of fish and meat have historically formed an integral component of devotional worship. The public display of reverence and tradition served to defuse rising friction after Shastri’s recent comments during a religious programme in Howrah had provoked sharp pushback from local organisations defending Bengali cultural heritage.
