The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has ignited a sharp political debate after issuing guidelines ahead of Durga Puja in West Bengal, calling on puja organisers to restrict the sale and consumption of non-vegetarian food in and around pandals. The directive, released on Friday, has drawn contrasting reactions from leaders of the Janata Dal (United), Congress, and other parties.

What the VHP Guidelines Say

The VHP urged Durga Puja organisers to return to what it described as traditional practices, specifically that non-vegetarian food should neither be sold nor consumed in the vicinity of puja pandals. Crucially, the organisation clarified it was not calling for a blanket ban, acknowledging that Durga Puja in Bengal has historically not been strictly vegetarian. Its stated concern was the sanctity of the goddess's idol — that it remain free from contact with non-vegetarian food.

JD(U) Backs the Spirit, Raises a Contradiction

Janata Dal (United) National General Secretary Shyam Rajak said stopping the sale of meat and fish during the festival was a positive step, but flagged an internal inconsistency in the VHP's position. 'It is a good thing that the sale of meat and fish is stopped during Durga Puja. However, one concern is that people perform animal sacrifices during Durga Puja, and animal sacrifice is also part of certain traditions and religious practices. When such sacrifices take place, what will happen to the meat? Will people be allowed to use it or not?' Rajak said. He urged the VHP to address this contradiction and suggested the organisation first appeal to religious communities to end the practice of animal sacrifice before regulating meat sales.

VHP Defends the Move as Cultural Preservation

Upasana Arora, President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Indraprastha Province, speaking in Delhi, described the guidelines as consistent with long-standing practice. 'I see this in a very positive way because, ever since I can remember, from my childhood, I have seen that during Durga Puja, people generally stop consuming meat and alcohol in their homes. I do not even allow onions into my home during these days,' she said. Arora characterised such practices as part of Indian culture and argued the VHP had a responsibility to preserve and promote those values.

Congress Challenges VHP's Authority

Congress leader Udit Raj mounted a direct challenge to the VHP's standing to issue such directives. 'Who are they to prescribe what people should do? Are they elected representatives? They are goons and miscreants, and they create a wrong narrative. What someone eats and what someone gets to eat is a constitutional right. They have no right to issue any circular on this,' Raj said. His remarks reflect a broader opposition argument that the guidelines encroach on individual dietary freedoms protected under the Constitution.

Wider Debate on Religion, Dietary Rights, and Public Space

The controversy has opened a larger conversation about the role of religious organisations in regulating activities around public celebrations. Critics argue that such guidelines, even when framed as advisory, carry implicit social pressure that can amount to enforcement in practice. Supporters counter that preserving the sanctity of religious festivals is a legitimate cultural objective. This is not the first time dietary restrictions around Hindu festivals have become a flashpoint in West Bengal, where Durga Puja is both a deeply religious event and a major cultural and commercial occasion. The debate is likely to intensify as the festival season approaches.