📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Mukerjee
Politics
TMC slams Durga Puja pandal ad for omitting Goddess Durga, calls it a snub
✍️ Moneycontrol.com
🗓 16 Oct 2026, 10:16 AM
👁 18
The Trinamool Congress criticised a recent Durga Puja pandal advertisement that showcased West Bengal but omitted any image of Goddess Durga, accusing the campaign of sidelining the deity.
Kolkata, West Bengal – The Trinamool Congress (TMC) publicly rebuked a promotional advertisement released ahead of this year’s Durga Puja. The ad, which highlighted West Bengal’s cultural attractions, featured vibrant pandal visuals but did not include any depiction of Goddess Durga, the festival’s central figure.
TMC leaders described the omission as a deliberate snub, questioning why the deity was “left out of her own festival.” They argued that any marketing of Durga Puja should honor the goddess, who embodies the spirit of the celebrations.
The party’s statement came as the state government prepares for a record‑breaking influx of tourists during the month‑long festivities. While officials have not responded to the criticism, the episode underscores the political sensitivity surrounding cultural branding in the lead‑up to the major Hindu festival.
Analysts note that TMC’s remarks may also be aimed at rival parties that have previously used religious imagery in election campaigns, turning a cultural debate into a political talking point.
No further comment was obtained from the advertising agency responsible for the campaign.
TMC leaders described the omission as a deliberate snub, questioning why the deity was “left out of her own festival.” They argued that any marketing of Durga Puja should honor the goddess, who embodies the spirit of the celebrations.
The party’s statement came as the state government prepares for a record‑breaking influx of tourists during the month‑long festivities. While officials have not responded to the criticism, the episode underscores the political sensitivity surrounding cultural branding in the lead‑up to the major Hindu festival.
Analysts note that TMC’s remarks may also be aimed at rival parties that have previously used religious imagery in election campaigns, turning a cultural debate into a political talking point.
No further comment was obtained from the advertising agency responsible for the campaign.