By Samir K Purkayastha
The move manifests the growing ‘Hinduisation’ of polity, a development that political observers perceive as a victory of the RSS-BJP’s ideology, and could give electoral dividends for the saffron camp in the long run.
A special puja was conducted in the recently inaugurated Jagannath temple in Digha by offering 300 kilograms of khoya (solidified milk) to the presiding deity as “Maha prasad” on June 10.
‘Maha prasad’ exercise
A parcel each containing 10 kg of the prasad reached all districts in refrigerated vans the same day for mixing it with more khoya at select local sweet shops to prepare two types of sweetmeats.
A packet containing a peda, a gaja (made from the khoya) and a photograph of the state-funded Jagannath temple will be handed over to each family through ration dealers in an initiative that undermines the secular spirit of the constitution by involving state funds and machinery for a religious programme.
The district magistrates and block development officers are executing the mammoth exercise in their respective jurisdictions. The minister of state for cultural affairs Indranil Sen is overseeing the entire process.
The distribution will begin on June 17 and will be completed by June 27, the day of the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra.
Growing Hindutva footprint
The TMC’s pandering to Hindu sentiment points towards a larger political reality in the state, where Hindutva is gradually expanding its footprint.
This story was originally published in thefederal.com. Read the full story here.
