Suvendu Adhikari Offers Special Prayers at Kalighat Temple

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the famous Kalighat Temple in Kolkata on Thursday on the occasion of Kaushiki Amavasya. After offering prayers to Goddess Kali, he sat on the floor with other devotees and partook of the traditional bhog, which included fish and basanti pulao. Fish based offerings are part of the traditional rituals followed at several Shakta temples in West Bengal.

His visit came amid a controversy over remarks by Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, who had urged Bengalis to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja. Adhikari said people have the right to choose their food and that regional food traditions do not weaken Sanatan traditions. He also said that while he accepts traditional offerings on occasions such as Kaushiki Amavasya, he observes a completely sattvic diet on Durga Ashtami.