Hawkers hem in places of worship across Kolkata

Time of India

24-05-2025

Kolkata: After pavements, carriageways, and markets, hawkers have now turned their attention to the city's places of worship. In central Kolkata, several historical shrines — cutting across faiths — are almost invisible behind the dense sprawl of unauthorised stalls, a canopy of plastic sheets, and stacked goods.
Devotees say their access to these sacred spaces is increasingly hindered, and civic authorities remain largely unmoved.
The problem is most visible around the Maghen David Synagogue, located at the junction of Canning Street and Brabourne Road. Once a prominent landmark, the synagogue is now hidden behind layers of illegal stalls selling bangles, cosmetics, and clothes. Just across the road, the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary faces a similar plight.
Covered in blue tarpaulin and surrounded by hawkers selling everything from belts to electronics, the church's entrance is nearly indistinguishable.
"We've informed the civic body several times. It's not a hidden problem — anyone passing by can see the mess," said a church official.
"It's heartbreaking," said Miriam Cohen, a visitor from Bowbazar. "One has to zigzag through stalls just to get to the gate. There's no respect for the sanctity of the place."
by Taboola
by Taboola
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The Tipu Sultan Mosque, another landmark in Esplanade, is similarly surrounded by hawkers. All four sides of the mosque are occupied by vendors, resulting in a congestion that adds to traffic snarls in an already vehicle-heavy thoroughfare.
"This creates problems during the time of prayers when several devotees head to the mosque," said Arif Hossain, a regular visitor.
Temples, too, are not spared. In Burrabazar, Shree Sitalnath Temple, Sri Panchayati Jain Temple, and Sri Digamber Jain Naya Mandir on Kalakar Street find themselves hemmed in.
"There's barely any space left to walk, let alone stand and pray," said Harsh Jain, a devotee. "The stalls often block the entrance itself."
"We cleared several stretches around New Market, Burrabazar, and College Street last year following directives from the chief minister. But the hawkers returned within weeks," said a senior KMC officer. "Political pressure and lack of sustained enforcement make it difficult to implement long-term solutions."