Gandhi Look-Alike As Mahisasur At Kolkata's Durga Puja Pandal Sparks Row

• Image Credit: Google

• Oct 3, 2022 | Dhupali Das

The Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha in southwest Kolkata, close to Ruby Crossing, organized the puja...

Digital Desk: Controversy erupted at a Durga puja pandal in Kolkata where the ‘Mahiasura’ was replaced by a Mahatma Gandhi-lookalike. On the occasion of the 'Father of the Nation's birth anniversary, images of the pandal went viral on social media.

The Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha in southwest Kolkata, close to Ruby Crossing, organized the puja. The organizers altered the appearance of the specific idol after a police complaint was made regarding the supposed portrayal of Gandhi as an "asura".

"The Durga idol that was worshipped here initially had a Mahisasur whose face looked similar to that of Mahatma Gandhi. The similarities are just a coincidence. After photos of it went viral, a police team visited the pandal and asked us to change the face," said Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha state working President Chandrachur Goswami.

"The police asked us to change it, and we obliged. We put a moustache and hair on Mahishasur's idol," he added.

Meanwhile, Sandip Mukherjee, President of the Bangiya Parishad Hindu Mahasabha, condemned the incident. 

He said, "We don't support what Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha did. We condemn it. We too had differences with Gandhi Ji's views, but this is not a way to protest against it."

Political groups including the BJP and the Trinamool Congress criticized the alleged portrayal of Gandhi as a "Mahisasura."

The ruling Trinamool Congress state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said if this was really done, it was nothing but sacrilege.

"It is an insult to the nation's father. Each and every person of the nation is being insulted. What would the BJP say in response to such a slur?  We know the assassin of Gandhiji belonged to which ideological camp," Ghosh added. 

The state BJP also opposed to this representation. "It is unfortunate if such a decision had been made. We reject it. This is offensive, "Sukanta Majumdar, the BJP's state president, said. 

Every year, puja organizers choose a theme, usually a social issue, and express it with pandals, idols, and lighting setups. Many a time, the traditional Mahisasura was replaced by something that represents social evil.