By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 8, 2022: Rationalists and ritualists in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur towns on Tuesday clashed over a biryani feast on lunar eclipse day.

Bajrang Dal activists and ritualists had a scuffle at Lohia Academy here while tension was witnessed in Berhampur as the police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.

As per reports, the members of the rationalist group had organised a biryani feast at the academy. When the ritualists and some members of an organisation reached there and opposed the feast during the eclipse, the situation turned violent as the ritualists attacked the rationalists. They also reportedly threw cow dung and pelted stones at them. Later, police reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Similarly, a chicken feast was also arranged at Dharma Vihar of Khandagir in Bhubaneswar. Police detained some protesters in this incident.

Bajrang Dal and other organisations also vociferously protested the biryani feast in Berhampur. A group of Brahman Samaj members took out a march in front of the food stalls where the biryani feast was being organised. A violent clash also erupted later as both sides engaged in scuffle. Police reportedly resorted to mild lathi-charge to control the situation and prevent any major flare up. Rationalist group has filed a case in Badabazar Police station of Berhampur.

Rationalist Biranchi Narayan Rout said, “Eating food during lunar eclipse has no negative impact and the protest is baseless. It is their own choice to eat vegetarian or non-vegetarian during the lunar eclipse. No one can refrain us and be forced to accept their thoughts and beliefs.”

Earlier, during the solar eclipse also, the rationalists had arranged a non-veg biryani feast in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur which had kicked up the row.