Insaaf Times Desk

A controversy has erupted in Ranchi over the Durga Puja pandal organized by RR Sporting Club on Ratu Road. This year, the pandal was designed inspired by the architecture of Vatican City, featuring European-style domes, tall pillars, and images of Christian religious figures such as Jesus Christ and Mary.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) criticized the pandal, claiming it hurt Hindu religious sentiments and promoted religious conversion. VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said on X (formerly Twitter), “This move is intended to hurt Hindu religious sentiments and encourage conversion. If the organizers are truly interested in secularism, they should put images of Hindu deities in churches or madrasas.”

Following the protests, the organizers replaced the image of Jesus Christ with that of Lord Krishna. Organizer Vicky Yadav stated that the change was decided during an internal committee meeting and denied any external pressure. He added that the pandal was meant to provide a platform representing all religions equally.

According to the organizers, the design was inspired by the Vatican City-themed pandal created by Kolkata’s Shreebhumi Sporting Club in 2022. They also claimed that the pandal was constructed entirely in accordance with Vedic traditions and worship protocols.

The controversy went viral on social media, with some people praising it as a symbol of secularism, while others criticized it as offensive to religious sentiments. The BJP and other organizations also expressed objections, demanding a review of the pandal’s funding and approval process.

Experts say the controversy highlights the need to balance religious and cultural identities. Organizers have assured that they will exercise greater caution in the future to avoid similar disputes.