WB Govt Ad Shows Goddess Durga With 11 Hands, CM Apologises
It showed the goddess with five hands on her left side, four on her right and two holding her weapon, a Trishul, in the middle. Opposition parties attacked the BJP-rule over the error.
Kolkata: A massive controversy hit the BJP government in West Bengal on Monday when its advertisement, featuring Goddess Durga with 11 hands instead of 10, was published in major dailies in the city.
The erroneous ad, which was about the schedule of a coordination meeting between the various puja organisers and administration later in the day as part of the festival preparations, belonged to the information and cultural affairs department headed by chief minister Suvendu Adhikari.
It showed the goddess with five hands on her left side, four on her right and two holding her weapon, a Trishul, in the middle. Opposition parties attacked the BJP-rule over the error.
Trinamul Congress MLA and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh asked, “I have seen a series of threats and strictures including no theme, no distortions. But how could the goddess have 11 hands in a government ad? According to which Shashtra, Dashabhuja of 2026 became Ekadoshbhuja?”
CPI(M) leader Shatarup Ghosh sarcastically wondered, “A fantastic government ad! Goddess Durga has 11 hands. Gods gave Durga weapons for 10 hands to kill Asur. And the BJP government gave the goddess one hand extra to slap and throw out those, trying to impose a fatwa of only vegetarian food during Durga Puja, out of pandals and Bengal.”
After drawing a flak, Mr Adhikari apologised for the error while starting his address at the puja organisers’ meeting. “As the CM, I tender my apology for the erroneous ad published this morning. Those who made it have been warned. The government will be careful about it in future.”
He then announced ₹1 lakh financial aid for Durga Puja organisers with fund crunch and asked the wealthy committees not to apply for it. Last year his predecessor, Mamata Banerjee, offered ₹1.10 lakhs of grants to the puja organisers.
Mr Adhikari also informed that an event will be held at Eden Gardens on Mahalaya, likely to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He banned puja inauguration before Matripaksha, alcohol (including liquor shops and bars) on the day of Ashtami, DJ music throughout the festival and the carnival and use of cranes for immersions on Dashami.