In a significant setback for Hindus in Jalalpur town, located in the Kaliachak I CD block of Malda district, West Bengal, police have denied permission for the centuries-old ‘Rath Mela’ (chariot fair), a tradition that has been observed for the past 629 years.
Citing ‘law and order’ concerns, the West Bengal police, under the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government, refused to allow the fair, which follows the annual ‘Rath Yatra’ and takes place near the Sri Mahaprabhu Mandir over the course of a week.
While permission was granted for the Rath Yatra procession itself, the authorities claimed a surge in anti-social activities, including incidents of violence and even murder during the festival, as justification for cancelling the Mela.
মালদার কালিয়াচকে ৬২৯ বছরের পুরোনো জালালপুর রথযাত্রা উৎসবের পুলিশি অনুমতি না মেলায় রাজনৈতিক তরজা শুরু#RathYatra #Festival #Jalalpur #Malda #Kaliachak #Political #Police #Permission #WB #Bengal #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/ivgb0EfsvH
— DD Bangla News (@DDBanglaNews) June 19, 2025
The decision to block the 629-year-old Rath Mela has left the organisers stunned and disheartened. They emphasised that the fair not only holds deep cultural and religious significance but also plays a vital role in the local economy, drawing people from all communities regardless of caste or religion.
In response, the organisers have decided to take the matter to the District Magistrate and, if needed, pursue legal action through the courts.
Gautam Mandal, Secretary of the Rath Yatra Committee, stated, “The Rath Mela predates Babur and the Mughal era—it’s 629 years old. Halting this ancient tradition for the sake of a political vote bank is deeply unjust.” Meanwhile, TMC State General Secretary Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury defended the police’s decision, attempting to justify it on administrative grounds.
However, local BJP leader Ajay Ganguly argued that the move clearly showed the police were acting in line with the political interests of the ruling TMC government.
‘Halal’ sweet shops allegedly tasked with preparing prasad at Digha Jagannath Mandir spark controversy
The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government is once again facing backlash over the newly constructed Jagannath temple in Digha, which has been mired in controversy since its inauguration in April this year. The latest dispute revolves around the preparation of temple prasad.
The BJP has alleged that the state government has assigned the task of preparing prasad for the Mandir to Muslim-owned sweet shops. BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya criticised the move on June 17, accusing the government of “trampling on Hindu sentiments with impunity.”
Malviya shared a document on social media platform X, listing the names of several sweet shops, which he claimed are Muslim-owned. According to him, these shops are involved in preparing traditional sweets like Gaja and Pera, which are being distributed as prasad at the temple.
He further pointed out that while the original Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha strictly prohibits the entry of non-Hindus to preserve religious sanctity, the West Bengal government has disregarded these norms by sourcing prasad from non-Hindu establishments.
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