Chhath Puja: West Bengal orders meat shops to shut down

Kolkata: Notices directing three meat shops in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, to remain closed during Chhath Puja have triggered a political controversy in West Bengal, with opposition voices accusing municipal authorities of interfering in Bengali food traditions.

Rampurhat Municipal Board chairman Soumen Bhakta issued the notices to shops in the Court Gali area, directing them to remain closed until 10 am on November 15 and 16. The order also requires raw meat to be covered with red cloth when shops operate on other days.

The restrictions have raised questions over why meat shops should face curbs during Chhath Puja, particularly when similar closures have not been demanded during other religious occasions, including Kali Puja and Kaushiki Amavasya. Tarapith Shakti Peeth is also located near Rampurhat.

Opposition voices argue that fish and meat are integral to Bengali food culture and are consumed during festivals in rural and urban areas. They have described the move as an intrusion into traditional eating habits and individual freedom to choose what to eat.

Bhakta denied that the decision targeted any community. He said two shops opposite the court complex had been slaughtering animals openly and selling meat by the roadside, along a route used by students and others. Repeated verbal requests to change the practice had failed, prompting the municipal board to issue formal notices.

Trinamool Congress leader Milton Rashid questioned the sudden restrictions, saying local residents had celebrated Chhath Puja peacefully for years without such measures. He also stressed that food choices should remain a matter of individual preference.

The shops may reopen after 10 am on both days, subject to conditions imposed by the municipal authorities.