Suvendu eats fish offering at Kalighat temple amidst Bageshwar Baba row
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly consumed fish at a temple following controversial remarks by a religious preacher advocating for vegetarianism during Durga Puja. The incident highlights ongoing cultural tensions regarding dietary traditions in Bengal.
Why it matters
The event underscores the intersection of religious identity, political posturing, and cultural heritage in Indian regional politics.
Amidst the controversy raging over the remarks made by a Madhya Pradesh religious preacher advocating vegetarian food for Bengali Hindus during Durga Puja, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari late on Thursday (September 10, 2026) partook in the traditional fish and pulao bhog at Kolkata’s Kalighat temple.
The video of the Chief Minister having pulao and fish was shared largely on social media including by West Bengal BJP . “On the sacred occasion of Kaushiki Amavasya, Chief Minister Shri @SuvenduWB offered prayers to Maa Kali at Kalighat and, following the temple’s traditional customs, partook of the sacred bhog of pulao and fish,” the West Bengal BJP said on social media, sharing the video.
The video surfaced days after Dhirendra Krishna Shastri alias Bageshwar Baba on September 6 urged Bengalis to give up non-vegetarian food during the pujas.
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