Restrictions on Touching Idols During Immersion Spark Political Row in West Bengal

A controversial directive has emerged in Kolkata regarding the ongoing Durga idol immersion, stipulating that only followers of Sanatan Dharma may touch or carry the sacred idols. During an inspection of safety preparations at Babughat along the Hooghly River, instructions were issued urging the police commissioner to identify and verify the religious background of those handling the idols. The move has ignited sharp criticism across West Bengal's political landscape.

Historically, daily-wage laborers from diverse religious and marginalized communities have been actively involved in lifting and transporting heavy idols across immersion ghats. Many underprivileged Muslim workers and daily earners depend on this brief festival period for supplemental income. Should organizers enforce strict religious screening, a considerable number of manual laborers risk losing their livelihood, potentially creating a workforce deficit at the immersion docks managed by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Opposition political factions have condemned the decision, arguing that restricting manual labor based on religious identity revives exclusionary practices and social divisiveness. They contend that a mass community festival should not foster untouchability among hard-working citizens. In contrast, proponents maintain that the decision carries no communal malice and is purely aimed at preserving the core sanctities and traditional rituals of the faith.

As immersion ceremonies continue over the next few days, uncertainty persists over whether puja committees can practically implement these strict checks without disrupting logistics. With no alternative labor arrangement presented by the municipal administration, observers are keenly watching how local authorities manage communal harmony alongside festival operations.