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Adhikari Says Ganesh Puja Broke Bengal’s Religious Barriers
Suvendu Adhikari said people in West Bengal are now celebrating Ganesh Puja publicly.
He said earlier governments had limited some religious celebrations to indoor spaces.
According to him, people helped bring the festival onto the streets.
He said Ganesh Chaturthi has started the festive season in Bengal.
Adhikari also said festivals can help people feel connected.
He criticized communists and groups he described as anti-national.
He said Ganesh Puja should not belong only to Maharashtra.
He invited his political opponents to pray with him during Vishwakarma Puja.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said people had overcome unnecessary restrictions on public religious festivals.
He made the remarks while inaugurating Ganesh Puja at Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Ballygunge on Monday.
Adhikari said the puja had previously been restricted to indoor venues but had become a public street festival over the past four years.
He rejected objections that Ganesh Puja was mainly associated with Maharashtra, saying Indian Hindus should not be divided by region.
Adhikari invited communists and political opponents to join him in offering prayers during Vishwakarma Puja at Nabanna.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, people celebrating Ganesh Puja, and his political opponents.
- What
- Adhikari inaugurated a Ganesh Puja and said people had overcome restrictions on public religious celebrations.
- Where
- Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Ballygunge, West Bengal; the Vishwakarma Puja invitation was for Nabanna.
- When
- Monday; he also referred to the upcoming Vishwakarma Puja and the approach of Devipaksha.
- Why
- Adhikari said public celebrations should be allowed, religious traditions preserved, and regional divisions over Ganesh Puja rejected.
Adhikari’s Position
Critics’ Position
Public religious celebrations
Adhikari’s Position
Adhikari said previous governments imposed unnecessary administrative restrictions and that people had enabled Ganesh Puja to become a public festival.
Critics’ Position
The article refers to objections that the government is placing too much emphasis on religious festivals, but it does not identify specific critics beyond mentioning communists.
Regional identity of Ganesh Puja
Adhikari’s Position
Adhikari said Ganesh Puja should be celebrated across India and that there should be no regional division between Maharashtra and Bengal.
Critics’ Position
Some people cited by Adhikari argued that Ganesh Puja is primarily associated with Maharashtra and questioned its wider celebration in Bengal.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Minister of West Bengal
- Event
- Ganesh Puja inauguration
- Venue
- Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Ballygunge
- Festival history
- Adhikari said the puja had been held for four years and was previously restricted to indoor venues.
- Upcoming invitation
- Adhikari invited opponents to join him for Vishwakarma Puja at Nabanna.
- Cultural message
- He called for preserving Sanatan traditions and culture.
Quotes
Suvendu Adhikari
West Bengal chief minister speaking at a Ganesh Puja inauguration in Ballygunge
“Some are saying that Ganesh Puja belongs to Maharashtra, so why should it be celebrated in every home here? I want to clearly tell them that we are all Indian Hindus. There will be no wall of regional division among us. We have broken and demolished that wall. We will all live together.”
thestatesman.com
“People themselves have finally brought Ganapati out. The previous government could not even imagine that Ganesh Puja could come onto the streets in this manner and turn into a public festival.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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