Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Eleven-Armed Durga Advertisement Sparks Political Controversy in Bengal
A West Bengal government advertisement showed Goddess Durga with 11 arms.
Many people in Bengal are used to seeing Durga shown with 10 arms.
Opposition parties said the picture changed an important religious and cultural symbol.
Trinamool Congress leaders asked how the image received government approval.
Suvendu Adhikari apologised and said the mistake would be corrected.
A BJP leader said it was an accidental design error and should not become a political fight.
Some priests explained that religious texts describe Durga in several forms, including ones with different numbers of arms.
The disagreement is therefore about both a government mistake and how religious tradition should be understood.
A Bengal government advertisement depicted Goddess Durga with 11 hands instead of the traditionally familiar 10.
The advertisement promoted a meeting between state officials and Durga Puja organising committees at Milan Mela ground.
The Trinamool Congress and CPM criticised the image as a distortion of established religious and cultural iconography.
Suvendu Adhikari apologised, called the depiction an error and said the responsible agency had been cautioned.
BJP leaders described the image as an inadvertent graphic mistake, while priests noted that Hindu texts describe Durga in forms with different numbers of arms.
- Who
- The West Bengal government, Opposition parties including the Trinamool Congress and CPM, BJP leaders, and priests involved in Durga Puja traditions.
- What
- A government advertisement depicted Goddess Durga with 11 hands, prompting criticism and an apology.
- When
- The controversy emerged on Monday, when the advertisement was circulated and Suvendu Adhikari addressed Puja committee representatives.
- Where
- The meeting was announced for the Milan Mela ground in Bengal.
- Why
- The image differed from the widely familiar 10-armed depiction of Durga, although priests said religious texts describe multiple forms.
Criticism and Cultural Concern
Accidental Error and Textual Variation
Was the image politically significant?
Criticism and Cultural Concern
The Trinamool Congress and CPM said the 11-handed depiction distorted a deeply established religious and cultural icon and questioned how it received government approval.
Accidental Error and Textual Variation
The BJP said the image was an inadvertent mistake by an advertising agency and should not be turned into a political controversy.
Is Durga always depicted with ten arms?
Criticism and Cultural Concern
Critics said Durga is conventionally known in Bengal as Dashabhuja, making the extra hand an error that should be removed.
Accidental Error and Textual Variation
Priests said the Devi Mahatmya and related traditions describe different manifestations with varying numbers of arms, including forms with eight, 18 and 1,000 arms.
Government accountability
Criticism and Cultural Concern
Opposition leaders argued that the government’s approval process should have prevented the depiction from being published.
Accidental Error and Textual Variation
Suvendu Adhikari apologised, promised greater care in future and said the responsible agency had been cautioned.
- Depiction
- The advertisement showed Durga with 11 hands.
- Traditional image
- Durga is widely revered in Bengal as Dashabhuja, or the 10-armed goddess.
- Advertisement issuer
- The West Bengal government’s information and cultural affairs department.
- Meeting location
- Milan Mela ground.
- Government response
- Suvendu Adhikari apologised and said the agency responsible had been cautioned.
- BJP response
- Samik Bhattacharya called it an inadvertent graphic error and said it would be rectified.
- Religious-text context
- Priests said the Devi Mahatmya tradition includes descriptions of Durga and related manifestations with varying numbers of arms.