3 min readKolkataUpdated: Mar 25, 2026 10:25 PM IST
Ahead of Ram Navami processions on Thursday and Friday, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand has announced a traffic overhaul, restricting heavy goods vehicles, except essential services like LPG, milk, and medicine, from entering the city during peak hours.
With over 5,000 Ram Navami processions planned across the state on Thursday, the local police and authorities are also on high alert to ensure a peaceful celebration.
“In the procession of Ram Navami, people are walking. If a bike enters the procession, it spoils all the arrangements. So we decided the bikes would not go. The organisers were told to keep the bike in the parking, do the procession and then take the bike and go…,” Nand told media persons.
The Calcutta High Court, meanwhile, on Tuesday, allowed the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) rally in Howrah, capping participants at 500 and imposing strict conditions including ban on carrying of arms, lathis, or the use of high-decibel DJ systems.
Organizers must also provide ID proofs for participants in advance, it said.
Despite state concerns regarding election-year sensitivities and route deviations, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya ruled that the procession will follow its traditional path from College Gate 1 to the Mullick Fatak area.
VHP leadership has confirmed that the Howrah event will feature a tableau of Lord Ram and “jhakiyan” of the Dakshineswar Temple. Addressing the logistics, Ritu Singh, the vice-president of Durga Vahini (women wing of the VHP), confirmed: “Over 5,000 Ram Navami processions have been planned across the state. As per court orders and directions, the procession in Howrah will see 500 people. There will be a tableau of Lord Ram and people can also see Dakhineswar Temple jhakiyan. It will start from College Gate 1 to Tram depot, GT Road, Mullick Fatak. Our volunteers are also alert to ensure no untoward incident takes place.”
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Security has also been tightened in Barrackpore Commissionerate, with officers briefed on Election Commission guidelines and monitoring of known “history-sheeters” and trouble-mongers.
“I had come to visit the police station, and I was briefing my officers on the guidelines of the Election Commission. I have given briefings about the trouble mongers and history-sheeters in the police station…,” Commissioner Amit Kumar Singh said.
