Union Home Minister Amit Shah is all set to visit West Bengal towards the end of the month, with BJP sources suggesting he is likely to make the trip on February 29.
Shah’s visit comes amid Bengal BJP exploring the idea of “uniting” Bengali Hindus around Hindu gods and goddesses that they are more familiar with. Hence, a special thrust is being given to Lord Krishna and Goddess Kali.
It’s no surprise then that Shah, in his February trip, is slated to visit Mayapur, around 130 kilometres from Kolkata. Mayapur is associated with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a revered figure in Gaudiya Vaishnavis. Shah is scheduled to visit the ISKCON temple in Mayapur, say BJP sources. He is also likely to hold several organisational meetings in the adjoining areas of Mayapur. However, he wants to keep the focus of his tour clear — Lord Krishna.
Mayapur is also the headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). It is one of the world’s most visited spiritual sites and has a vibrant international community living there.
Beyond the realm of spirituality, the BJP has political reasons as well in Bengal to explore an alternate route of Hindutva which can work as a rallying force for its brand of politics.
In the North, BJP’s Hindutva has largely been centred around Lord Ram. In Kerala, it revolves around Lord Ayyappa, while in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it is around Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu also known as Balaji. In Bengal, BJP has found the answer in Krishna and Kali.
At the fag-end of last year, around Christmas, Shah and JP Nadda were in Kolkata with a focus on evaluating the organisational landscape in West Bengal. Amid a series of meetings, both leaders made time to visit the Kalighat temple — one of the Shakti Peeths — and offer prayers.
In the socio-cultural milieu of Bengal, both these deities hold huge influence. From everyday prayers to naming kids as well as businesses after them in the hope for success, both Krishna and Kali are intrinsic parts of Bengal.
While this is not the first time a BJP leader from Delhi has visited the Mayapur, Kalighat, or Dakhineshwar temples, of late, these visits have increased.
When Nadda was in Kolkata for Durga Puja last year, he said: “Maa Durga ends demonic forces (asuri shakti) and angelic forces (Sur shakti) win. We would pray to the Goddess that in Bengal too, which is a land of culture, heritage, and religion, demonic forces are defeated and good forces win to ensure peace and prosperity.”
Though it was a political statement, it was centred around Goddess Durga, another manifestation of Goddess Kali.
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