The streets of Kalighat, a religious hub and political cynosure in Kolkata, turned into a visual contrast of saffron and green on Monday as the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony was underway in Ayodhya. While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's ‘all-faith’ rally saw people flooding the streets, numerous wings of the BJP organised celebratory rallies and screenings of the consecration ceremony across the city. 

The Kalighat Bahumukhi Seva Samiti organised a live screening of the Prana Pratishtha Ceremony accompanied by puja archana, sankirtan, arati and bhog prasad bitaran in south Kolkata’s Deshpran Sasmal Park, near Rashbehari crossing. The screening was contested by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation but was eventually allowed by the Calcutta High Court after the body moved a plea. 

Saffron flags planted around the park attracted scores of pedestrians, but saw a capping of 60, as issued by the HC. According to the organisers, they made sure they invited religious leaders from the local temples and gurudwara to be a part of the screening as well.

Tushar Kanti Ghosh, state media in-charge, BJP and secretary of Bahumukhi Seva Samiti said, "To understand how important the day is, we need to trace it back to people like Chhatrapati Shivaji who fought against forces that were trying to corner Hindus in our very own country. The Ram Mandir is not merely a temple, but a symbol which represents the revival of Sanatan values and Hindutva in India." 

The members of the Bahumukhi Seva Samiti were upbeat about the programme's success after being contested by the state, which Ghosh reaffirmed. "The 500-year episode finally comes to a close today. While the world rejoices on the historic day, it's a matter of great plight and shame, that we had to contest the administrative bodies and take matters to the HC, and that too in Kalighat, a place which embodies Hindu spirituality and values," he added.

"It's an internal fusion of anger and happiness," another member interjected. "It's a shame that while the country was busy prepping for this very day, we had to battle in court. They tried everything to stop our programme. And now they have taken out their all-faith rally. Doesn't Lord Ram fall within the definition of our CM's religious harmony? Ram Rajya is for everyone, a state for all religions," added Bikash Ghosh, joint-secretary, Bahumukhi Seva Samiti.

Kalighat: A TMC stronghold

Kalighat, home to one of the 51 shakti-peethas in eastern India has been a TMC stronghold for more than a decade. A few hundred metres away from the revered Kali Temple is also Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's house. On Monday, while Bahumukhi Seva Samiti screened the consecration and organised a bhog bitaran, at around 3 p.m., the scene completely morphed as Mamata Banerjee walked into the Kalighat Kali Temple to offer puja and begin her all-faith rally, from Hazra Crossing to the Park Circus Maidan. 

The rally was announced by the TMC supremo as a signifier of Bengal's multi-religious and syncretic kaleidoscope and was touted by the opposition as an answer to the auspicious occasion of the Ram Mandir consecration. Led by Banerjee, senior TMC leaders along with numerous religious leaders across different faith led a sea of party supporters to the Park Circus Maidan where she addressed the gathering.

Banerjee had recently criticised the Ayodhya Ram Mandir consecration as a 'political gimmick' mounted by the BJP. On Monday, Mamata took the opportunity to address the event and establish her concrete stand on the issue. "They (BJP) talk about Lord Ram, but not about Sita. Are they anti-women? There would not have been a Ram without a Sita, without Kashalya who gave birth to him. Yet Sita had to enter Pataal to pass her chastity test," she expressed.

Talking about the wave of divisive politics and how BJP was celebrating the day as their "Independence Day", Mamata added, “I don't believe in politicising religion ahead of elections. I am against such practice. I have no objection against those worshipping Lord Ram, but object to interference with the food habits of people." Mamata had also visited a gurudwara in Garcha and a local mosque and church in Park Circus to offer her prayers.

Speaking to Outlook, senior TMC leader and MP Kalyan Banerjee said, "West Bengal has never had any place for divisive politics centred around religion. The people here have never played political games in the name of religion since Independence. It's surprising to see everything that is going on. Schools and offices being shut for Ram Mandir consecration is unbelievable!"

Banerjee affirmed that on the lines of India's Constitution, TMC has always functioned with secularism and pluralism at their centre. "Our culture and ideals are reflected in us organising this rally, where people, regardless of religion, came together to walk hand-in-hand. Even Mahatma Gandhi was in Calcutta while India celebrated during Independence Day celebrations, to foster a sense of brotherhood and maintaining Calcutta's harmonious ethos. That does speak volumes on our city's beliefs and culture,” she said.

He even spoke about Narendra Modi's government going out of its way to stop the rally from happening. "Let them do anything. People will speak about their actions. I haven't called the event a political circus. The Shankaracharya has. I don't believe that the people of India will be completely swayed by this. They are using religion as a tool. In a recent speech, a noted BJP leader termed people not celebrating the event, as false Hindus. The beauty of the religion lies in its accommodation of multiple viewpoints and beliefs. So, if they want to segregate, I have a simple question to ask. Will they be able to do whatever they plan without these 'false Hindus' ?" remarked Banerjee.

Riding on Mamata Banerjee's vocal criticism of the event as a political consecration, could the Sanhati Rally be the most definitive and emphatic answer across the country that shapes Bengal's and the opposition bloc's politics in the prelude to the 2024 elections?