CM Suvendu joins Rath Yatra in Kolkata; several BJP leaders join festivities

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari attended the Rath Yatra festivities on Thursday (July 16). Some other senior Bharatiya Janta Party leaders also attended the statewide festival.

Mr Adhikari joined ISKCON devotees at Kolkata’s Albert Road to celebrate 55 years organization’s annual Rath Yatra celebrations. He also joined devotees to pull the rope of the Jagannath chariot, a famous ritual of the religious event.

Later in the day, he also attended the Rath Yatra celebrations in Tamluk and Mecheda celebrations in Purba Medinipur district. Mr. Adhikari said from the festival in Tamluk that his participation in the temple’s festival had nothing to do with his political ideology, path or any position he held and that he participated as a devotee.

“I am grateful to inaugurate the ISKCON Rath Yatra in Kolkata, where dozens of devotees were waiting,” Mr. Adhikari said.

Meanwhile, other senior BJP leaders like minister Dilip Ghosh and State president Samik Bhattacharya also attended many Rath Yatra celebrations.

The BJP government in West Bengal is giving the Rath Yatra a new makeover, distributing ₹5 lakh cash to 60 organisers. Commenting on the aid, Mr. Adhikari said, “This is for repair work. There are many old Rath Yatras who do not have money for repairs.”

Earlier, former CM Mamata Banerjee was also known to have attended the festivities and had even built a Jagannath Temple in Digha, which is a close replica of Puri’s original Jagannath Dham. This situation led to serious criticism from various segments of society. However, interest in the new temple remained high as Jagannath remained one of the most famous gods of Eastern India.

Celebrations were also seen at the Jagannath Temple in Digha on Thursday. In the evening, Ms. Banerjee wished people well for the Rath Yatra during a live video on social media.

Several Durga Puja communities in Kolkata”huti puja” This day marks the beginning of the upcoming pandal construction ahead of the Durga Puja festivities in October.

ISKCON mid meal

During the Rath festivities, Mr. Adhikari also said that they trust ISKCON with the responsibility of cooking midday meals in government schools in Kolkata. He said that ISKCON will start distributing food in Kolkata from August 1 and then expand the program to Nadia district.

“The purpose of the school lunch program is not just to provide food but also to provide proper nutrition for children. Providing a good, nutritious meal is extremely important. Students who depend on lunch in our schools largely come from middle class, lower middle class and economically weaker families. Many children from affluent families do not depend on this program. Therefore, nutritious food is essential to address malnutrition,” he said.

The CM also added that this scheme will not come under the purview of corruption, which he said was a major problem in midday meals during the previous government.

Following a public interest litigation against the issue of removing eggs from meals and promoting only vegetable dishes, the matter reached the Calcutta High Court. However, during the hearing on July 8, the government’s lawyer said that no official notification had been issued regarding the shifting of lunches to ISKCON.