Biryani Feast During Solar Eclipse: Police Complaint Filed Against Rationalists in Odisha’s Puri

Puri: Even as Puri Shankaracharya condemned the biryani feast during solar eclipse, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha on Thursday filed a police complaint against the rationalists for hurting the sentiments of the Hindus.

Speaking to media persons in Puri, Odisha vice-president of the Mahasabha Surya Rath said he has filed an FIR against the rationalists at Puri Town police station. Since the activities of the rationalists of organising chicken biryani feast and launching a campaign against the tradition of abstaining from food during solar eclipse on Tuesday have hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus, he has demanded legal action against those involved in it, he added.

Rath said it has been the practice of the Hindus not to take cooked food during the eclipse for thousands of years. “We have been following the tradition as prescribed in our scriptures. There is nothing new about it nor it has been announced by the pandits and astrologers of the present time,” he said.

“Even scientists have advised against the intake of food during the eclipses. Successive governments have also respected the tradition in Odisha and even declared holiday on the day to facilitate the people to observe solar eclipse with austerity,” he added.

He alleged that the way the ‘so called’ rationalists organised the biryani feast in Bhubaneswar is a pre-planned attack on the sentiments of the Hindus. “It is a deliberate attempt on their part to create division among the Hindus. The Shankaracharya has also supported the fasting during the eclipse as it is prescribed by our scriptures and has a scientific basis,” he added.

In order to save the society from the conspiracy of the few vested interest groups, the Mahasabha has sought stern action against them, Rath said.

Also Read: [Watch] Puri Shankaracharya Slams Rationalists For Biryani Feast During Solar Eclipse