‘Maa Durga Has 11 Hands?’: BJP Ad Sparks Row in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari Apologises

A BJP government advertisement for a Durga Puja programme has triggered a major political controversy in West Bengal after an image of Goddess Durga in the print ad showed her with 11 arms instead of 10. Facing criticism from the Trinamool Congress and public outrage on social media, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari apologised for the error.

The advertisement was issued for Milan Mela, a government-backed festival scheduled to be held on September 7 on the occasion of Mahalaya. The depiction of Goddess Durga in the advertisement quickly became the centre of a political row, with the Trinamool Congress accusing the BJP government of disrespecting Bengal's cultural traditions.

Why Did BJP Durga Puja Advertisement Spark Controversy?

The controversy erupted over the image of Goddess Durga used in the advertisement, which showed the deity with 11 arms instead of the traditional depiction of 10 arms. Durga Puja 2026 Guidelines: List of All Announcements Made by West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari.

The Trinamool Congress attacked the BJP government over the advertisement, calling it another example of what it described as the party's lack of understanding of Bengal's culture.

BJP Ad Shows Maa Durga With 11 Hands

"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 social media platform X.

The party further criticised the government, saying:

"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". Durga Puja 2026 Guidelines: West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari Announces Alcohol Sale Ban and Strict Pandal Rules.

Suvendu Adhikari Apologises Over Maa Durga Image

Amid the backlash, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari apologised for the incorrect depiction of Goddess Durga and said officials had been warned to avoid such mistakes in the future.

"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 apology came after the advertisement drew criticism from the opposition as well as social media users.

What Is Milan Mela? BJP Government's Mahalaya Programme Explained

The advertisement was promoting Milan Mela, which will be held on Mahalaya. According to Adhikari, the event will be the only Durga Puja-related festival organised by the government, in contrast to the Durga Puja carnival held by the previous Trinamool Congress government.

"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.

Adhikari said the government would also organise a separate programme at Digha as part of its Durga Puja celebrations.

Eden Gardens, Digha and Ganga Ghats on Government's Durga Puja Plan

The West Bengal government has planned cultural programmes in six towns and arrangements at several locations in Kolkata.

"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.

The government plans to combine large-scale cultural events with celebrations across Kolkata and other parts of the state.

Trinamool vs BJP Over Bengal's Cultural Identity

The controversy over the advertisement comes amid a broader political debate over Bengal's cultural identity and the BJP government's approach to Durga Puja.

The Trinamool Congress has used the incorrect depiction of Goddess Durga to accuse the BJP of being disconnected from Bengal's traditions, while the government has sought to highlight its plans for large-scale Durga Puja celebrations.

Adhikari's apology is likely to bring the immediate controversy over the advertisement to an end, but the episode has added another flashpoint to the political battle between the BJP and Trinamool Congress over culture and identity in West Bengal.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 07, 2026 11:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).