Last Updated:
RR Sporting Club’s Durga Puja pandal in Ranchi, themed after Rome’s Vatican Museum, sparked protests from VHP and others over religious sentiments.
Organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Hindu Jagran Manch, and Janjati Suraksha Manch claim that designing a Durga Puja pandal in the likeness of a church offends Hindu religious sentiments. (X)
A massive row broke out over a Durga Puja pandal in Jharkhand’s Ranchi. The structure, designed to resemble Rome’s Vatican Museum, has drawn fierce opposition from several Hindu organisations.
The RR Sporting Club’s pandal, located on the city’s Ranu Road, has garnered significant attention due to its controversial structure. Organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Hindu Jagran Manch, and Janjati Suraksha Manch claim that a Durga Puja pandal in a Catholic design offends religious sentiments.
Recommended Stories
VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal accused the government of playing with the faith of Hindus.
In a post on X, he alleged that the pandal, constructed under the leadership of JMM leader Vicky Yadav, has become a “hub for religious conversion.”
“Look at this…In Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, how the government’s game is being played right alongside the faith, beliefs, and religious sentiments of Hindus. Under the leadership of JMM leader Vicky Yadav, Durga Puja pandals themselves have now turned into hubs for religious conversion!At RR Sporting on Ratu Road in Ranchi, they’ve set up an entire Vatican City from Rome just for the installation of Mother Durga’s idol,” he said in a post on X.
Vikram Sharma, the provincial convener of the Hindu Jagran Manch, stated that the move will be strongly opposed and that tampering with Hindu faith will not be tolerated, Jagran reported.
Pandal Group’s Defence
Meanwhile, RR Sporting Club President Rahul Yadav defended the move, saying that the pandal is based on the theme of the Vatican Museum and that there was no intention to hurt anyone’s sentiments. He also highlighted that the structure is completely eco-friendly, the report added.
About The Pandal
Built at a cost of Rs 85 lakh, the pandal measures 100 feet in length and 45 feet in width. Its construction involved 70 to 80 artisans working around the clock. The pandal is adorned with grand lighting, and numerous food and drink stalls have been set up in its vicinity.
About the Author
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
Ranchi, India, India
September 25, 2025, 21:10 IST
Loading comments…
Read More
