CM Suvendu joins Rath Yatra in Kolkata; several BJP leaders join the festivities

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari performs the ‘Chhera Pahanra’ ritual before pulling the chariot rope during the 55th ISKCON Rath Yatra in Kolkata | Photo credit: PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari participated in the Rath Yatra festivities on Thursday (July 16). Several other prominent Bharatiya Janta Party leaders also joined the festival across the state.

Mr. Adhikari joined ISKCON devotees at Albert Road, Kolkata, on the occasion of the organization’s 55th annual Rath Yatra celebrations. He also joined the devotees to pull the rope of Jagannath’s chariot, a celebrated ritual of the religious event.

Later that day, he also participated in the Rath Yatra celebrations at Tamluk and Mecheda in Purba Medinipur district. Mr. Adhikari said from the Tamluk festival that his participation in the temple festival has nothing to do with his political ideology, path or any positions he holds and participates in as a devotee.

“I am grateful to inaugurate the ISKCON Rath Yatra in Kolkata where thousands of devotees are waiting,” said Mr. Adhikari.

Meanwhile, other senior BJP leaders like minister Dilip Ghosh and state president Samik Bhattacharya also attended several Rath Yatra celebrations.

The BJP government in West Bengal is giving Rath Yatra a new look and giving away ₹5 lakh in cash to 60 organisers. “This is for repairs. There are many old Rath Yatras who don’t have money for repairs,” Mr. Adhikari said while commenting on the doles.

Earlier, former CM Mamata Banerjee was also known to participate in these festivities and even built the Jagannath Temple in Digha which was a close replica of the original Puri Jagannath Dham. This led to harsh criticism among various sections of society. However, the outpouring in the new temple remained high, as Jagannath remains one of the most famous gods in eastern India.

Celebrations were also seen at the Jagannath temple in Digha on Thursday. Ms. Banerjee also wished people Rath Yatra in the evening during a live video on her social media.

Several Durga Pujas communities in Kolkata performed their ‘khuti puja’ on this day, which is the initiation of their upcoming construction of pandals before the Durga Puja festivities in October.

ISKCON in the middle of a meal

During the Rath celebrations, Mr. Adhikari also said that they have entrusted ISKCON with the responsibility of cooking mid-day meals in government schools in Kolkata. He said ISKCON will start distributing meals from August 1 in Kolkata, after which it will expand the program to Nadia district.

“The aim of the school mid-day meal program is not only to provide food, but to ensure proper nutrition for children. Providing good and nutritious food is extremely important. The students who depend on mid-day meals in our schools are largely from middle class, lower middle class and economically weaker families. Most children from rich families do not depend on this scheme. Therefore, a nutritious diet is essential to address malnutrition,” he said.

The CM further added that this program will have no scope for corruption, which he said was a major problem in mid-day meals under the previous government.

The matter has already reached the Calcutta High Court after a public interest litigation was filed against the issue of removing eggs from meals and introducing only vegetable meals. However, during the court proceedings on July 8, the government counsel said that no official notification had been issued about this move to ISKCON for the midday meal.

Published – 17 Jul 2026 04:40 IST