Hyderabad Durga Puja organisers at Gachibowli have sought preventive police action after objections to non-vegetarian food stalls at another puja venue in the city raised concerns about possible disruption during the ongoing celebrations.
Utsab Cultural Association, which is organising its annual Durga Puja at the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Gachibowli, submitted a representation to Raidurgam police on Saturday. The association asked the police to maintain law and order and ensure that any grievances over food vendors or stalls were addressed through legal channels.
The request followed a controversy at a Durga Puja pandal at NTR Stadium on Lower Tank Bund Road on Friday evening. A group led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad objected to the sale of non-vegetarian food at one of the stalls, leading to discussions with the organisers.
The group later claimed on social media that the organisers had given a written assurance that non-vegetarian food stalls would not be allowed at the venue from next year. Joy Kumar Dutta of Hyderabad Bangalee Samity, which organises the NTR Stadium puja, denied that any such assurance had been given.
“There has been no such communication from the committee. The matter is being discussed internally,” Dutta told the Times of India. He said discussions had taken place but that no decision had been made, adding that “nothing has changed so far”.
A Domalguda police officer said individuals had approached the organisers with objections to the sale of non-vegetarian food. The organisers reportedly told them that the practice had been followed for years without controversy. Assistant sub-inspector V Venkateshwarlu said there was no physical altercation, but senior police officers, including the Domalguda inspector and assistant commissioner of police, reached the pandal and brought the situation under control.
Indranil Aditya, associated with the Gachibowli organisers, said the representation was prompted by concerns arising from reports of the NTR Stadium incident. “Durga puja is a cultural and religious event open to everyone. Bengali cuisine includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and people from different backgrounds participate in the celebrations. We do not want any disharmony at the puja,” he said.
The association said it was concerned that objections to food vendors could escalate into attempts to intimidate them or disrupt the festival. It clarified that the request for police protection was precautionary and was not directed against any individual or group. Raidurgam police acknowledged receiving the representation.
The developments come days after a similar controversy involving non-vegetarian stalls at a Bengali Durga Puja event in Kompally. The immediate police response at the Gachibowli venue will determine how complaints are handled while the celebrations continue.
