Kolkata, 16 July (H.S.) :

West Bengal BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya on Thursday alleged that the previous Trinamool Congress government diluted the religious sanctity and spiritual essence of Durga Puja by projecting it merely as a festival rather than a sacred religious observance.

Addressing a Khunti Puja programme in north Kolkata, Bhattacharya said that in recent years the occasion has increasingly been described simply as a festival instead of Durga Puja. He asserted that Durga Puja is not just a cultural celebration but a deeply rooted religious observance, and its sanctity must be preserved.

He said the central identity of Durga Puja lies in the idol of Goddess Durga and the devotion associated with the worship. According to him, elaborate themes and grand pandals alone cannot define the festival. If there is no idol of Goddess Durga inside a pandal, people will not visit it, no matter how magnificent the decorations are, he said, adding that Durga Puja is, above all, an act of worship and its religious dignity should remain paramount.

Although Bhattacharya did not name anyone directly, his remarks are being viewed in the context of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's repeated statement that religious faith is a personal matter, while festivals and their celebrations belong to everyone.

During his address, the BJP state chief also expressed concern over what he described as demographic changes in West Bengal's border districts. He claimed that some parts of the state were beginning to resemble Bangladesh and alleged that attempts were being made to restrict religious traditions in a manner similar to incidents reported across the border.

Bhattacharya further alleged that while people were allowed to light lamps, objections were being raised to blowing conch shells during religious ceremonies and chanting Hari Mantra during funeral processions.

Expressing confidence ahead of this year's festivities, he said Durga Puja in West Bengal would be celebrated peacefully across the state with full adherence to traditional religious customs and rituals.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh