Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Durga Puja Organisers Defend Food Freedom Across Kolkata
Durga Puja is a major festival in West Bengal.
Some people recently argued that only vegetarian food should be sold near festival pandals.
Most organisers in Kolkata said visitors should be free to choose what they eat.
They said there is no government order banning non-vegetarian food.
Fire-safety rules do say that cooking must not happen within 200 yards of a pandal.
The rules do not ban particular kinds of food.
Food stalls also help Puja committees earn money.
The discussion began after monk Dhirendra Shastri criticized meat and other non-vegetarian food during the festival.
Puja organisers across Kolkata said they would continue offering both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food near pandals.
Organisers cited the absence of any government ban on non-vegetarian food and emphasized visitor choice.
Fire regulations prohibit cooking within 200 yards of a pandal but do not restrict food types.
Stalls selling rolls, biryani, momos and other foods provide important, predictable revenue for committees.
The debate followed monk Dhirendra Shastri’s criticism of non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja, which drew protests and political responses.
- Who
- Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata and Howrah, along with monk Dhirendra Shastri and West Bengal political leaders.
- What
- Puja committees decided to continue allowing vegetarian and non-vegetarian food stalls near their pandals.
- When
- Ahead of this year’s Durga Puja; the article does not specify exact dates.
- Where
- Puja areas across Kolkata, including Kalighat, Bagbazar, Maddox Square, Alipore and Tala, as well as Liluah in Howrah.
- Why
- Organisers said there is no government restriction on food types, visitors should have a choice, and stall income is important to Puja committees.
Supporters of Food Restrictions
Supporters of Food Choice
Food near pandals
Supporters of Food Restrictions
Dhirendra Shastri argued that non-vegetarian food, which he described as dirty food, should not be cooked behind Puja pandals and urged support for closing meat and liquor shops during the festival.
Supporters of Food Choice
Most Puja organisers said there should be no restriction on food choices, noting that visitors routinely eat non-vegetarian food outside pandals and that no government directive bans it.
Tradition and festival management
Supporters of Food Restrictions
Those supporting restrictions view vegetarian food as more appropriate around religious celebrations.
Supporters of Food Choice
Organisers said Durga Puja in Bengal traditionally includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, while committees should focus on safety rules and visitor choice.
Economic impact
Supporters of Food Restrictions
The articles do not report a specific economic argument from supporters of food restrictions.
Supporters of Food Choice
Puja committees said food stalls provide substantial, predictable revenue in addition to corporate sponsorship.
- Food policy
- Organisers generally plan to allow both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food near pandals.
- Fire-safety rule
- Registered Puja committees must not allow cooking within 200 yards, or about 183 metres, of a pandal.
- Food restrictions
- The cited fire regulations do not restrict the type of food sold.
- Common foods
- Stalls commonly sell egg and chicken rolls, biryani, chowmein, momos and beverages.
- Revenue
- Organisers said food-stall income is a predictable and significant source of Puja funding.
- Trigger for debate
- Dhirendra Shastri criticized non-vegetarian food cooked near Puja pandals and called non-vegetarian eaters hypocrites.
- Government response
- The chief minister said people could accept or reject Shastri’s view and that he had not forced anyone.