Kolkata: Opposition Trinamool Congress on Monday took a dig at the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government in West Bengal for releasing an advertisement in newspapers depicting a “distorted” image of Goddess Durga, where the deity was shown with 11 arms instead of the traditional 10.
The advertisement announced a coordination meeting of Adhikari with various Durga Puja committees in Kolkata.
While addressing the coordination meeting at the Milan Mela premises here, the chief minister apologised for the goof-up, seeking to put an end to the controversy that erupted over the “distorted” depiction.
The Trinamool has said that it is yet another example of the BJP’s ignorance and disrespect for the state’s culture. The BJp, it said, “trivialising” the Goddess and the festival that’s nothing less than Bengal’s heartbeat.
“So now, according to the @BJP4Bengal government, Maa Durga has 11 hands… Since when does Maa Durga have 11 hands? And who thought it was acceptable to represent her this way… From their leaders to the Chief Minister, this repeated mishandling of Maa Durga and Bengal’s cultural traditions is deeply insulting!” read a post by the Trinamool on the social media platform X.
“Maa’s homecoming is sacred to millions of Bengalis. Yet a government that claims to speak for Bengal seems increasingly disconnected from Bengali culture, traditions and the festivals that define Bengal’s identity,” read the post that ended with “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”.
“I apologise for the wrong government advertisement depicting Maa Durga with 11 hands instead of 10. We will be more careful and also have warned the officials,” said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The festival the BJP was announcing will be held on Mahalaya – it would be the only festival held by the government. The Chief Minister explained the matter at a press conference today saying unlike the erstwhile Trinamool government, the new government will not host a Durga Puja carnival.
“We will instead hold the largest programme at Eden Gardens on Mahalaya. There will be drones, fireworks and the entire programme will be 4 hours long. We will also hold roadshows,” said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, underscoring that it will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi..
A separate programme, he said, will be held at Digha. “Six towns will have cultural programme. Four Ganga ghats in Kolkata will be decked up for pujo… We will uphold the Bengali culture this Durga Puja,” he added.
