A notice by the Rampurhat Municipality in the Birbhum district issued on Friday has stirred controversy after it ordered that meat shops be shut on Chhath Puja.
It also stated that shopkeepers selling mutton should also remain closed on Sunday and Monday, when the festival is celebrated.
“On the remaining days, any cut meat (such as goat, mutton, lamb) sold in your shop must be kept covered with a red cloth,” read the notice signed by the Rampurhat Municipality Chairman Soumen Bhakat.
“Since it is Chhath Puja on Sunday and Monday, there are 2-3 meat shops on the main road. Hence, 2-3 Chhath Puja committees, the police, and the municipality took the decision that the shops till be shut till 10 AM on Monday, since it is a big festival for Biharis, which has to be conducted with a lot of piety,” added Bhakat's notice.
The Chairman also added that many who fast at this time were unsettled by blood and dirty water on the road, due to which the decision was taken.
“We appeal to shopowners that on other days, they cover their shops with black curtains or a red cloth as many go to school past that road. We have told them many times before, but they did not pay heed, and hence, a fresh directive has been issued," the notice said.
Copies of the notification have also been sent to the Rampurhat Sub-Divisional Officer and the Inspector-in-Charge of Rampurhat Police Station.
Shopkeepers say they have received the directive and have appealed to the municipality.
“We appealed whether we could sell meat by opening shutters when customers come, as Sundays are busy days; we would not have sold when the Chhath Puja devotees are passing by. Now we have to adhere to this notice else they will take legal action against us,” said Noor Ali Sheikh.
Sheikh also questioned the lack of prior consultation with shop owners before issuing the notice.
Questions were then raised about why such a notice had never been issued in the past, given that the Tarapith Temple is situated located close to Rampurhat, and celebrates Kaushiki Amavasya and Kali Puja in a big way.
"Fish is offered as bhog during the worship of Maa Tara, and goat sacrifice is also performed. But Chhath Puja is a sattvik festival. Devotees observe a two-day fast without even drinking water. It is a festival of a particular community, and it carries deep emotional significance for them," explained the Rampurhat Municipality Chairman.
A local CPI(M) leader reacted sharply to the notice, saying that the government did not want people to follow Bengali culture.
"A few days ago, someone called Bageshwar Baba came to Bengal and advised people not to eat fish or meat during Durga Puja. This government does not want Bengali culture. It wants to replace Bengali traditions with the culture of the BJP. People of Bengal are organising themselves against this, and they will respond through protests," the leader said.
The Mamata Banerjee faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) responded saying there had been no problem when Chhath Puja was celebrated in the erstwhile regime.
“Puja is always vegetarian, fish and meat should not be there and those who perform puja do not touch non-vegetarian (food) themselves— it comes from within, but it should not be enforced on anyone, and if any one wants to eat non-vegetarian, that is their choice ... There had been no problem before,” said Kunal Ghosh.
The state government has made arrangements at various ghats for devotees to celebrate Chhath Puja. Railway platforms are also catering to devotees with decorated lights and songs based on the occasion.
