Ram Navami celebrations in West Bengal on Sunday witnessed a vibrant mix of religious fervour and political mobilisation, with high-profile rallies and processions across the state. Leaders from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) took part in events that were conducted under heightened security due to concerns of potential unrest. The TMC accused the BJP of trying to consolidate Hindu votes through Ram Navami celebrations. 

Across West Bengal, around 2,500 rallies were scheduled, with more than 6,000 police personnel deployed to ensure peace. Celebrations began early on Sunday, featuring saffron-clad devotees, religious chants, and processions with tableaux depicting scenes from the Ramayana.

Ram Navami: BJP Alleges Attack On Vehicles Of Devotees; Kolkata Police Dismiss Claim

The BJP alleged an attack on vehicles belonging to Ram Navami devotees during a religious procession. "Despite a heavy police presence, no action was taken. Just last Friday, at the same location, members of Muslim community protested against the Waqf Bill, bringing the city to a halt. They burned tires on the roads and paralyzed normal life—yet again, without any intervention from law enforcement. Today, Hindus have once again been targeted—and once again, the police chose silence," it claimed. 

In response, Kolkata Police clarified that no permission was taken for any procession nor did any such movement occur in the area. "Upon receiving information about damage to a vehicle, police intervened promptly to restore order. A case is being registered to investigate the matter. Public is advised not to heed any rumours," it stated.

Ram Navami 2025: Swords Brandished In Malda And Howrah

Reports from Malda and Howrah revealed that Ram Navami rallies in these districts featured open display of arms, including swords, India Today reported. In Malda, a large procession commenced from Ramakrishna Palli Maidan, while similar scenes were reported in Howrah’s Sankrail. According to India Today's report, Police sources confirmed that organisers did not possess official permission to carry weapons, and legal action is expected against them for violating rally guidelines.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Dola Sen sharply criticised the trend. “I have never seen such heavy police presence for Ram Navami before, but now the police are required to be vigilant. Dilip Ghosh appeared with weapons during the Ram Navami celebration…” she said, questioning the normalisation of armed religious processions under BJP rule, as per the report.

Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh stirred controversy by defending the presence of weapons in religious processions. Speaking in Kharagpur on Saturday, Ghosh said, “What’s wrong if someone carries a weapon?” he further asserted, “Ram Navami will be celebrated in a grand way across West Bengal. It is the duty of the police to ensure the peaceful conduct of celebrations. The Hindu community celebrates the festival as per their traditions, there should not be any problem with this.”

He added, “Crores of people will take to the streets. If anyone tries to create trouble, it is the responsibility of the police and administration to stop them.” Ghosh alleged that temples had been vandalised, idols stolen, and pandals set ablaze in recent times. Referring to participants in Ram Navami rallies carrying swords and sticks, he asked, “In such a situation, if Hindus step out to protect themselves, how is it a crime?” He maintained that the display of arms is symbolic and not criminal. “No one should object to how Hindus celebrate their festivals,” he said, as per the report.

BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul told the media, "The Hindu brothers and sisters, who are feeling unsafe, handed us weapons. If Muslims can carry weapons on Muharram, then why can't Hindus?... There should not be any discrimination among religions... Men and women are not safe in West Bengal."

"I was given the weapon by people as a plea for ensuring their security. If the need arises, we will have to learn to use it," she added.

Ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA from Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari, laid the foundation stone for a Ram temple at Sonachura village in the Purba Medinipur district. The site holds historical importance as it was the epicentre of the 2007 anti-land acquisition protests, where at least seven protesters were killed in firing by miscreants.

Ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA from Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari, laid the foundation stone for a Ram temple at Sonachura village in the Purba Medinipur district. The site holds historical importance as it was the epicentre of the 2007 anti-land acquisition protests, where at least seven protesters were killed in firing by miscreants.

Amid chants of “Jai Shri Ram” (Victory to Lord Ram), Adhikari, clad in saffron, led a rally from Shahid Minar to the proposed temple site in Sonachura. “We are peace-loving people; we will never do anything that will tantamount to breaking the law,” he told reporters, as per news agency PTI. Adhikari said devotees were engaged in prayers and devotional songs, asserting that this has traditionally been the way of celebrating Ram Navami for thousands of years. He dismissed the political hype around the occasion, stating, “There was no requirement to create the hype around the celebrations.” Emphasising Lord Ram as “a symbol of trust and faith for Hindus,” Adhikari added that a temple would soon come up at the location.

In Howrah, BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar joined the ‘Anjani Putra Sena’ rally in Shibpur, while fellow party leader Saumitra Khan showcased his ‘Lathi Khela’ (stick drill) skills during a procession in Bankura. In Salkia, North Howrah, TMC councillor Gautam Chowdhury participated in a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)-organised rally.

With over 60 rallies planned in Kolkata alone, authorities deployed drones, CCTV surveillance, and quick response teams to monitor events from the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar.

Tensions flared in New Town near Kolkata, where BJP leader Locket Chatterjee led a procession that was halted by police near Keshtopur. Police had erected barricades near VIP Road leading to Salt Lake. In a heated exchange, Chatterjee questioned the police’s move, saying, “This is not a political rally. It’s a spiritual congregation where people have participated spontaneously. How can the police stop this rally, which has the necessary permissions?”

She later bypassed the barricades and urged participants to take an alternate route. The rally, which began from a Ram temple in New Town, was scheduled to conclude at the Hanuman Mandir in Dum Dum, with BJP leader Arjun Singh joining the initial leg.

Elsewhere, TMC MLA Shaukat Molla joined a rally in Bhangar. At Jadavpur University, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) students defied university authorities to organise Ram Navami celebrations inside the campus. They set up a makeshift podium with a clay idol of Lord Ram and performed prayers.

In a heartening show of communal harmony, Muslims in Malda distributed sweets and water to participants of a Ram Navami rally and offered flowers to mark the occasion. In Cooch Behar, the VHP conducted a grand procession, while BJP leader Kartik Pal led a rally in Islampur, Raiganj, which had earlier been stalled by police barricades. The rally resumed after Pal staged a sit-in protest.

TMC And BJP Trade Barbs As Bengal Celebrates Ram Navami

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said, “The celebrations should be peaceful, and any attempts to disturb the processions will not be tolerated. Ram Navami will be celebrated across the state, no matter the efforts to stop it.” The BJP has claimed that more than 1.5 crore Hindus will participate in the celebrations, with over 2,000 rallies organised across West Bengal.

However, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of politicising the occasion. “They are trying to consolidate Hindu votes through these celebrations, which have now been politicised. They are trying to create disturbances,” he alleged.

Participating in a Ram Navami procession in Kolkata, Ghosh remarked, "This is a festival of communal harmony. During Eid, Muslim brothers invited us and we participated in the Eid Milan. In today's Shobha Yatra, Muslims have also participated. People's beliefs can be different, but when we are coming on the streets to celebrate a festival, we have to be united. This is Mamata Banerjee's Bengal Model. The entire country should see this..."

Actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty mocked Ghosh's remark, telling ANI, "Hindu-Muslims are walking together. Is this the model of Mamata Banerjee? You are really joking." 

"Again and again, these people (TMC leaders) say that BJP spreads violence. There were more than 1 lakh people on the streets today, did you see violence anywhere? So tell me where does BJP spread violence," he said. 

Hindutva outfits such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), VHP, and Hindu Jagaran Manch also mobilised supporters.

According to police sources cited by PTI, intelligence reports had warned of potential disturbances. The state administration has taken several precautionary measures to prevent violence, particularly in view of past communal flare-ups.

This year’s Ram Navami comes against the backdrop of recent attacks on Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh and the upcoming state elections, turning what has traditionally been a religious observance into a political flashpoint between the BJP and the TMC, with both accusing each other of exploiting religion for electoral gain.