On March 24, 2025, an Iftar party was organised at Jadavpur University in Kolkata on the occasion of the month of Ramadan. A video of the event went viral on social media, prompting various reactions on socical media. 

A section of netizens alleged that while Jadavpur University does not celebrate Hindu festivals such as Saraswati Puja or the dhol festival, Iftar parties were organised in the varsity. 

Sharing that video on X, one such handle @SouleFacts wrote, “This is Jadavpur University, Kolkata — the place where Saraswati Puja was halted, saying it was done to maintain harmony. And this is what it looks like today…Hindu Bongs, fear for your future, you all are almost wiped out in Bangladesh, don’t want to see same fate in WB.”

West Bengal state BJP president and central minister Sukanta Majumdar has also made a similar accusation on X handle.

Fact Check/ Verification

Newschecker first reached out to Nikhil Das, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at Jadavpur University, who clarified that Saraswati Puja celebrations were held at the varsity premises. 

“For the past two years, ABVP has been organising Saraswati Puja on the university campus, near the Triguna Sen Auditorium. We also celebrate Dol Utsav (Holi),” he informed. However, he accused the left students of tearing up their flags and posters.

We also found social media posts of Saraswati Puja celebrations on the campus on the page of JU ABVP, the ABVP student unit of Jadavpur University.

Labeling the viral claim as false, Sanjeev Pramanik, a researcher and leader of Jadavpur University’s Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), confirmed in a brief statement that Saraswati Puja has been organised in various departments and hostels of the university since 2012. He clarified that the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) has also been hosting the event at the university since 2019. 

While the Saraswati Puja celebrations were halted during 2021 and 2022 over pandemic restrictions,it was held every year since, including 2025.

Pramanik further mentioned that Dol festival, as well as Vishwakarma Puja are also celebrated in the university campus. He added that, just as Muslim students participate in Saraswati Puja, Hindu students also attend Iftar parties.

Sanjeev Pramanik also shared the permission letter granted by the Registrar to the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad for organising Saraswati Puja at Jadavpur University in 2025. The letter shows Kishloy Roy listed as the president of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad unit at Jadavpur University.

A search of Kishloy Roy’s Facebook account shows several pictures from the Saraswati Puja at Jadavpur University, posted on February 2, 2025. Among these images, some feature Trinamool Chhatra Parishad state president Trinankur Bhattacharya and Debangshu Bhattacharya, spokesperson and the head of the Trinamool social media cell.

Shourjyadipta Roy, the Jadavpur regional committee secretary of the leftist student organization Students’ Federation of India (SFI), has also confirmed the Saraswati Puja and the Dol festival at Jadavpur University, alongside the Iftar party. He emphasized that these events are celebrated on campus with the participation of students from all castes and religions. Dismissing the allegations circulating on social media regarding Iftar and Saraswati Puja, he asserted that such claims are entirely false.

Newschecker also contacted Mohammad Sajjad Hossain Ansari, a member of the Iftar organising committee at Jadavpur University and a researcher in the Department of Education. “Just as Iftar is held at Jadavpur University, all religious festivals, including Saraswati Puja and Dol (Holi), are also celebrated. I personally participated in both—I attended Iftar and also took part in Saraswati Puja. The claims being spread on social media are completely false,” he stated.

Furthermore, he shared some photos with Newschecker showing himself attending Saraswati Puja, partaking of the Bhog (Food), and receiving blessings from the priest.

Newschecker attempted to contact Indrajit Banerjee, the Registrar of Jadavpur University, for further information on the matter. However, we did not receive any response till the time of publishing this article. This report will be updated with his response.

Conclusion

The claim circulating on social media that Jadavpur University only hosts the Iftar party and not Saraswati Puja or the Dol festival, is false. All three events are celebrated with participation from students of all backgrounds.

Sources
Telephonic conversation with Nikhil Das, ABVP, Jadavpur University Telephonic conversation with Sanjib Pramanik, TMCP, Jadavpur University
Telephonic conversation with Shourjyadipta Roy, SFI, Jadavpur University
Telephonic conversation with Sajjad Hossain, Department of Education, Jadavpur University

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