LPG crisis forces temples in Bengal to alter bhog menu, switch to diesel stoves

KOLKATA: Temples and religious institutions across the city and in the districts are struggling to run the ‘bhog prasad’ service as the LPG crisis intensifies.

The scarcity of LPG cylinders has forced the authorities to reduce the cooking activities or look for other options.






The strain is evident at Iskcon Kolkata. Free dinner is served every evening to anyone who visits the temple. Radharamn Das, vice-president of Iskcon Kolkata, said the crisis threatens a service that is rooted in the instruction of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who had said no one within the temple’s 10 km radius should remain hungry.

“We are worried as how to sustain the bhog distribution if the LPG crisis persists. Our kitchens in the city are not equipped for wood fire cooking for many people,” he said.

To conserve fuel, Iskcon is making khichdi for brahmacharis and sannyasis staying there, instead of fullfledged menus, reducing gas consumption by 60 per cent to 70 per cent.

At Dakshineswar Ramakrishna Sangha Adyapeath Ashram, the prasad is made for over 10,000 people, offering meals twice a day. The meals are also given to 500 nar-narayans and over 2,500 residents. Authorities are continuing the service by using diesel stoves, said Brahmachari Mural Bhai, secretary of the trustee board.

At Dakshineswar Bhavatarini Kali Temple, daily bhog prasad giving has not yet been affected. But they are worried over fuel stocks. At Jagannath Dham in Digha, the shortage has already led to a cutback.

The temple had been serving breakfast, lunch and dinner prasadam to around 3,000 people on daily basis. But they have restricted the dinner service to only 750 people. Mayapur is not affected to a great extent as they cook on wood fire. In Naihati, the free bhog will be stopped at Boroma Temple from Monday.