Kolkata, July 16 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s state president in West Bengal and the Rajya Sabha member, Samik Bhattacharya, on Thursday, accused the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress regime of reducing the “sanctity and holiness” associated with the Durga Puja to the level of a mere festival where the spirit of piety went missing.

“Recently, the occasion was not described as ‘Durga Puja’. It was termed a festival. But the occasion is Durga Puja and hence the sanctity involved with it has to be maintained,” said Bhattacharya at a Khuti-Pujo (a ritualistic event marking the beginning of the forthcoming Durga Puja) programme in North Kolkata.

Although Bhattacharya did not name anyone directly, his clear indication was Mamata Banerjee’s routine comments before every Durga Festival that while religious beliefs are personal, the festival and its festive mood are for all.

Speaking on the occasion, he also substantiated why the “sanctity and holiness” of the Durga Puja should be the primary objective of the occasion. “Just themes are not enough. If you remove the goddess idol, no one will enter the pandal, however spectacular the theme of that community Puja might be… If you cannot keep the Durga idol in front, no matter how spectacular the theme is, people will not come. This is a Puja first, and its sanctity should be maintained,” Bhattacharya said.

Speaking on the occasion, he also expressed concern about demographic change in certain pockets in West Bengal, especially in areas adjacent to the international borders with Bangladesh.

“Some districts of West Bengal seem to have become Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, the hands of the Durga idol are broken, and the pot is taken away. In this state, too, people are being given the same punishment as in Bangladesh. It is being said that they can light lamps but not blow conch shells. They can burn corpses but not chant ‘Hari-Mantra” in the last journey of the deceased,” he added.

At the same time, he gave the assurance that this year Durga Puja will be celebrated throughout the state, peacefully maintaining all rituals and norms and at the same time.

–IANS

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