Political Storm Brews Over Durga Puja Inaugurations: BJP Accuses Mamata Banerjee of Pre-Mahalaya 'Stunt'

A fresh political storm has erupted in West Bengal, placing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the center of a heated controversy ahead of the highly anticipated Durga Puja festivities. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack, accusing Banerjee of prematurely inaugurating hundreds of Durga Puja pandals, long before the auspicious occasion of Mahalaya, which traditionally marks the commencement of the Puja.

BJP leaders have vehemently criticized Banerjee's actions, labeling them as an unprecedented and blatant attempt to politicize and "hijack" the state's most significant cultural and religious festival for electoral gain.

"Mamata Banerjee is inaugurating 400-500 pandals even before Mahalaya. This has never happened before," stated a prominent BJP leader, emphasizing the breach of long-standing tradition. The party argues that such early inaugurations are a clear political stunt, meticulously orchestrated to garner favor and votes ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

They assert that the Chief Minister is exploiting the religious sentiments of the populace for partisan advantage.

The accusations delve deeper, with the BJP questioning the timing from a spiritual perspective. "Pandals are being inaugurated while Goddess Durga is still in Kailash. The rituals for her descent to Earth only begin on Mahalaya," remarked a BJP spokesperson, underscoring the perceived disrespect for religious customs.

The opposition party has also raised concerns about potential violations of the Election Commission's model code of conduct, should the general elections be announced in the near future, hinting at the financial and logistical implications of these early events.

In response, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has swiftly dismissed the BJP's allegations as entirely "baseless and politically motivated." TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh defended the Chief Minister's actions, explaining that early inaugurations are often a practical necessity, allowing organizers to manage crowds more effectively and avoid last-minute logistical challenges as the festival approaches its peak.

Ghosh also challenged the BJP's right to question the religious practices of Mamata Banerjee, a devout Hindu woman, stating, "Who are they to comment on how a Hindu woman performs Puja? Many BJP leaders also attend these inaugurations."

Mahalaya holds immense spiritual significance, symbolizing the invocation of Goddess Durga and her journey from Kailash to Earth, her paternal home.

It typically falls a week before Sasthi, the official start of the five-day main Puja rituals. The timing of these inaugurations, therefore, becomes a focal point of contention, bridging the gap between traditional reverence and contemporary political maneuvering. As West Bengal prepares for its grandest festival, the political sparring over Durga Puja continues to dominate headlines, setting the stage for what promises to be an intensely watched electoral battle in the coming year.