Low-key Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in Bengal

Hanuman Jayanti celebrations across West Bengal on Saturday were kept significantly low key compared to last year amid tightened security following the unrest over Ram Navmi rallies last week.

While the state's ruling Trinamool Congress held a number of colourful processions with tableaux and organised Hanuman puja, no rallies were taken out by the Visva Hindu Parishad or other Sangh affiliates to mark the occasion.

Police said the occasion was observed amid tight security and confirmed the situation was peaceful throughout.

"There were some processions in the city and district but no untoward incidents have been reported so far. It has been very peaceful," Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Anuj Sharma told IANS.

Asked about an armed procession, allegedly taken out by the local puja organisers in Hoogly district's Bansberia on Saturday, he said there is no confirmation of any such rallies.A

"There was no permission for armed rallies today. If any such rallies were taken out, strict actions would be taken against the offenders," Sharma said.

Claiming that the decision of not bringing out rallies on Hanuman Jayanti was taken a month back, the state unit of VHP said it held an awareness programme in temples across the state, on the proposed Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

"No rallies were taken out by us. It was pre-decided during the all India meet last month. We organised an awareness programme advocating the significance of Ram Mandir. Hindu devotees across Bengal went to temples and observed the rituals," VHP's state media-in-charge Sourish Mukherjee told IANS.

Following BJP's large scale Ram Navami celebrations in Bengal last year, the Trinamool had extensively celebrated the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti to counter the saffron outfit's appeal to the sentiments of the majority Hindu population in the state.

--IANS

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