‘Buy biryani from Hindu shops’ poster campaign sparks row in Bengal’s Siliguri ahead of Durga Puja

A poster campaign by the Hindu Jagaran Manch urging people to buy biryani and puja articles from shops owned by Hindus triggered a controversy here, the largest town in the northern part of West Bengal.

The posters were put up across the city by the Hindu Jagaran Manch, an affiliate of the RSS, ahead of the Durga Puja festivities.

In Frames | Kumartuli: where clay comes alive

Expert strokes: While some workshops retain the traditional shabeki style, others experiment with contemporary designs to meet specific commissions.

Work in progress: Ahead of Durga Puja, artisans perfect clay idols of Goddess Durga, Lord Ganesh and other deities at Kumartuli in Kolkata.

Basic coat: An artisan sprays paint on a clay idol at Kumartuli, where few women have broken barriers to enter the traditionally male-dominated craft.

Divine details: Idols cost between ₹50,000 and ₹3 lakh, depending on their size, with eco-friendly colours adding to the making charge.

Decked to impress: People crowd around to photograph an idol of Goddess Durga as it is readied for transport from Kumartuli.

Form to faith: Artisans breathe life into the clay idols that will soon grace puja pandals and move devotees

Moulded by time:For many artisan families, idol-making is a generations-old tradition, with Durga Puja believed to have been first celebrated in Krishnanagar, Nadia district, in 1606.

Festive flair: One of Kolkata’s most celebrated festivals, Durga Puja brings communities together in a celebration of faith while providing a livelihood for many.

Young fans: Visitors take selfies and pose for photographs beside unfinished idols of Goddess Durga at Kumartuli.

1/3

The organisation stated that messages like “Eat biryani at a Hindu shop” and “Buy puja articles from Hindu shops” are not a diktat.

Hindu Jagaran Manch member Abhishek Das, who is leading the campaign, said, “This is not a diktat but an appeal. If people support businesses run by Hindus, it will also impact the local economy.”

Senior CPI(M) leader and former minister Asok Bhattacharya demanded police action against those behind the posters.

“Putting up such posters is a crime in a secular, democratic nation. The administration should not only remove the posters but also arrest those behind this communal campaign,” Mr. Bhattacharya said.

A BJP leader said the Hindu Jagaran Manch was an independent organisation and that the ruling party had no involvement in the campaign.

The posters drew criticism from a section of residents, who said Bengalis have traditionally been enjoying biryani without enquiring about the religious identity of the person preparing it.

They also pointed out that many artisans involved in making Durga Puja materials, including shola (pith) decorations, were Muslims, and described the appeal as contrary to the spirit of free thinking and Bengal’s social traditions.

The Left parties also criticised the campaign, arguing that the Constitution guarantees equal rights to people of all religions and that religion should not determine a person’s livelihood.