Paromita Das
New Delhi: A Festival Beyond Tradition
Ram Navami, the auspicious festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ram, has always held cultural and religious significance in Bharat. However, in recent years, its observance in West Bengal has become a subject of intense debate. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has intensified its efforts to mark the occasion with grandeur, particularly in 2025, with an unprecedented scale of celebrations. This move, while projected as a unification of the Hindu identity, has been scrutinized for its political ramifications, especially as the state gears up for the assembly elections next year.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has taken an aggressive stance on celebrating Ram Navami 2025 in West Bengal, a move that has sparked political and social debate. With an expansive plan to conduct events across 100,000 locations, the VHP is leaving no stone unturned in consolidating its presence in the state. The celebration, which began on March 30, will continue till April 12, culminating with the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman.
While the VHP insists that these celebrations reflect a rising Hindu consciousness, critics argue that the scale of these events aims to polarize communities, especially ahead of the 2025 West Bengal Assembly Elections. The political atmosphere in Bengal has been charged, and past instances of Ram Navami processions turning violent—in places like Raniganj (2018), Asansol (2019), Howrah (2022 and 2023), and Murshidabad (2024)—highlight the underlying tensions.
Mamata Didi’s Eid Speech: A Catalyst for Communal Polarization?
Tensions in this festive season were further exacerbated when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee delivered a provocative speech during an Eid celebration. In her address, she appeared to take a strong stance against the rising Hindutva movement, which many interpreted as a direct attempt to undermine the Ram Navami festivities and provoke communal sentiment. Her speech, which was replete with criticism of “those celebrating Ram with swords,” was perceived by many as dismissive of the religious fervor associated with Hindu festivals.
Banerjee’s continued political favoritism towards the Muslim community has long been a point of contention. Her speech on Eid was viewed by several Hindu groups and political analysts as the spark that intensified the Hindu-Muslim divide during an already volatile time. By allegedly demeaning Hindutva ideologies and attempting to frame Ram Navami as a politically motivated event, Mamata Didi may have inadvertently fueled communal polarization in West Bengal. Critics argue that her words undermined the spirit of coexistence during religious celebrations, contributing to the unrest seen across parts of the state.
Massive Ram Navami Processions and Political Implications
The VHP’s strategic expansion in West Bengal cannot be ignored. The organization has units in all districts, 345 administrative blocks, and claims a presence in 80% of the panchayat areas, making it a formidable force in grassroots mobilization. This year, they have significantly increased the number of processions—from around 1,000 in 2024 to over 2,000 in 2025. The BJP, too, has actively supported these events, with Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition, participating in foundation stone-laying ceremonies for new Ram temples in the state.
Given the rising Hindu mobilization, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) finds itself in a tricky position. While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has often accused the BJP and its affiliates of stoking communal unrest, the TMC government itself faces criticism for its approach to handling religious processions.
Kolkata High Court Grants Permission for Ram Navami 2025 Procession
Amid the growing political and social tensions, the dispute over the Ram Navami 2025 procession became a major flashpoint. While state authorities initially attempted to regulate or restrict certain routes for these processions, citing law and order concerns, the matter escalated to the Kolkata High Court.
In a landmark ruling, the Kolkata High Court granted permission for the Ram Navami processions to proceed along the originally planned route. The decision came after VHP and BJP leaders challenged state restrictions, arguing that previous years’ processions had been unfairly curtailed under the pretext of security issues. The court ruled in favor of religious freedom, stating that any attempts to obstruct these celebrations would be seen as a violation of constitutional rights.
This verdict has not only emboldened the VHP and its affiliates but has also added a legal dimension to the ongoing political battle. It remains to be seen how the state administration will handle the procession while ensuring communal harmony.
Historical Precedents and Rising Communal Tensions
West Bengal has a history of witnessing communal tensions around religious festivals. In the past, cities like Raniganj (2018), Asansol (2019), Howrah (2022, 2023), and Murshidabad (2024) have reported clashes during Ram Navami processions. Often, these incidents have led to accusations and counter-accusations between political parties. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has been accused by Hindu organizations of taking a partisan stance and being lenient towards minority communities, while the party itself has accused the BJP and its affiliates of deliberately instigating unrest.
In 2024, the VHP organized Ram Navami celebrations at approximately 45,000 locations across Bengal. This year, the number has more than doubled, signaling a deliberate and methodical expansion. The organization plans to hold over 2,000 processions, consolidating several smaller rallies into larger, more visible displays of Hindu unity. The opposition BJP has also aligned itself with this movement, with senior leader Suvendu Adhikari announcing plans to lay the foundation stone for a Ram temple in Nandigram on April 6. He has claimed that nearly 10 million people will participate in the Ram Navami celebrations this year.
The post Ram Navami Celebrations in West Bengal: A Political and Social Crossroad appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
