In a unique and spiritually charged moment during the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, monks from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) were seen chanting devotional “Hare Rama, Hare Krishna” bhajans as they headed to cast their votes in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The monks walked together in traditional saffron attire, singing bhajans and invoking spiritual chants before reaching polling stations. Their collective participation drew attention from voters and media alike, highlighting a blend of religious practice and democratic participation.
Speaking to reporters, ISKCON Kolkata Vice President and spokesperson Radharaman Das said that the act reflects Indian cultural traditions where people remember God before undertaking any important or auspicious activity. He emphasized that voting, as a democratic duty, is also considered a sacred responsibility.
“This is Indian culture. We should remember God before doing anything. We are all going together to vote, so we chant bhajans before exercising our democratic right,” he said.
Das also underlined the importance of voting in a democracy, warning that misuse of power can lead to oppression. He appealed to citizens to actively participate in the electoral process, noting that West Bengal witnessed an exceptionally high voter turnout in the first phase of polling.
According to him, the state recorded around 93 percent turnout earlier, which he described as one of the highest in the country. He expressed hope that participation would increase further in the ongoing phase.
“The people of Bengal are aware and active. We hope more people come out and vote in large numbers,” he added.
The second phase of polling in West Bengal covers a significant number of constituencies, including parts of Kolkata and South Bengal, and is being closely watched as a crucial round in the electoral battle.
Security arrangements have been tightened across polling stations to ensure peaceful voting, as citizens continue to exercise their democratic rights amid a mix of political enthusiasm and cultural expressions.
