As Durga Puja, the largest Hindu festival, begins today with Mahashasthi, celebrations are in full swing across West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh. The festival, which symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, is marked with grandeur, devotion, and cultural festivities on both sides of the border.
However, a disturbing controversy has clouded this year’s celebrations after a video went viral online on September 27. The footage shows that at a Durga Puja pandal organized by Khagra Sadhak Narendra Smriti Sangh in Berhampore, Murshidabad district of West Bengal, the demon (asura) figure under Goddess Durga’s feet has been designed to resemble Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
In Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga is depicted slaying the asura — a symbol of evil and injustice. By placing Dr. Yunus in the role of the asura, the organizers have attempted to portray him as the embodiment of evil being vanquished. The act is being widely condemned as not only disrespectful to Bangladesh’s current head of government but also as a provocative gesture that undermines the shared cultural fabric of the two nations.
The relationship between India and Bangladesh has long carried undercurrents of tension, with sections of people in both countries harboring mistrust and resentment toward one another. During Sheikh Hasina’s rule, many critics accused her of prioritizing India’s interests over Bangladesh’s sovereignty, leading to perceptions of India’s open backing for her government. With Hasina’s ouster in last year’s uprising and Dr. Yunus assuming the role of Chief Adviser, India’s influence in Dhaka has visibly waned. This backdrop has fueled speculation that such an offensive depiction of Dr. Yunus reflects political frustration in certain Indian quarters.
While supporters of the ousted Awami League were quick to circulate the video online, celebrating the insult, voices from civil society in both countries have strongly condemned the act. Analysts argue that such communal and politically charged displays erode the spirit of Durga Puja, a festival meant to unite communities under the ideals of justice, harmony, and the victory of truth.
What was meant to be a symbol of good triumphing over evil has instead turned into an image of division and hostility — raising questions about whether religion and culture are once again being weaponized in South Asia’s political rivalries.
