CM apologises after West Bengal government advertisement depicts Durga with 11 hands instead of 10
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has issued a formal apology after a government advertisement depicted Goddess Durga with 11 hands instead of the traditional 10. The error sparked significant backlash from opposition parties, who accused the government of disrespecting Bengali culture and religious traditions.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the sensitivity of religious iconography in Indian politics and the potential for administrative errors to escalate into major cultural and political controversies.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has apologised to the people of the State after the Government published an advertisement in Monday’s (September 7, 2026) newspapers depicting Goddess Durga with 11 hands instead of 10. As Opposition leaders came down heavily on the “distortion” of the deity, BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya sought to downplay the issue, remarking that the extra hand only makes Durga “stronger”.
“As the CM of West Bengal, I apologise for the error. The people responsible have received a stern warning. In the future, the Government will be careful,” Mr. Adhikari said at a Durga Puja coordination meeting on Monday (September 7) evening.
The advertisement published in several West Bengal newspapers sparked a major debate on social media and in political circles.
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