Suvendu visits Mayapur, takes part in religious rituals
The Statesman | 29 May 2026
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday visited the ISKCON headquarters at Mayapur in Nadia district.
Amid chants of “Hare Krishna” and “Haribol”, the Chief Minister performed Gomata seva, fed laddus to cows, offered prayers at the temple and participated in Vaishnav religious rituals. The sprawling ISKCON campus witnessed unprecedented security arrangements, with multiple police barricades, restricted entry points and heavy deployment of security personnel throughout the premises.
Addressing monks, devotees and ISKCON members, Mr Adhikari repeatedly described himself as “a devoted follower of ISKCON,” while invoking the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Bhagavad Gita and ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada.
“After assuming responsibility, I visited Kalighat temple, Belur Math and Lakshmi Narayan temple. Coming to ISKCON was a spiritual necessity for me. I have come here with my heart and soul. I pray that Bengal regains its lost glory through the ideals of Sri Chaitanyadev and the teachings of the Gita,” the Chief Minister said.
Mr Adhikari also remarked that organisations engaged in the “selfless propagation of Sanatan values and the Gita” often face disrespect despite serving humanity without any selfish interests.
Mr Adhikari paid glowing tributes to Srila Prabhupada, crediting him with carrying the Hare Krishna movement and Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra tradition across the globe. “Srila Prabhupada spread the Hare Krishna mahamantra and Jagannath culture throughout the world. His contribution to Sanatan Dharma is unparalleled,” he said.
Recalling his personal association with ISKCON traditions, the chief minister said he performs Radha-Madhav abhishek thrice every year during Dol Purnima, Janmashtami and Rath Yatra. He also fondly remembered his interactions with the late Bhakti Charu Maharaj during visits to Midnapore.
Thousands of devotees gathered along the temple corridors to witness the chief minister’s visit, while senior police officers supervised the elaborate security arrangements across the temple town.