Amidst the growing outrage over the objectionable portrayal of Goddess Kaali in the promotional poster of Leena Manimekalai’s documentary film ‘Kaali’, the famous Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata has finally reacted and strongly opposed the depiction.
The temple authorities said, “We are all worshipers of Maa Kali. Holding a cigarette in his hand is hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community. In many places, maa is given alcohol and goats are sacrificed. But holding a cig is highly reprehensible. We are strongly opposed to it.” (sic)
We are all worshipers of Maa Kali. Holding a cigarette in his hand is hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community.
In many places, maa is given alcohol and goats are sacrificed. But holding a cig is highly reprehensible. We are strongly opposed to it.#KaaliPosterControversy– Dakshineswar Kali Temple (aliKaliTempleKol) July 6, 2022
There are some consistent rituals that form the core of Kali worship across Bengal, which is why both fish and meat sacrifices are offered to the Goddess as bhog. In many places, maa is given alcohol and goats are sacrificed. But holding a cig is highly reprehensible. We are strongly opposed to it, said temple authorities.
DAKSHINESWAR KALI TEMPLE
Taking to its official Twitter handle, Dakshineswar Temple authorities wrote, “As we said before, we still say that there are many places where worship is done with wine, that is the rule there. But what is shown in the much-discussed poster is never acceptable. The Dakshineshwar Kali Temple strongly condemned the incident.
We made our position clear.” (sic)
As we said before, we still say that there are many places where worship is done with wine, that is the rule there. But what is shown in the much-discussed poster is never acceptable. The Dakshineshwar Kali Temple strongly condemned the incident.
We made our position clear.– Dakshineswar Kali Temple (aliKaliTempleKol) July 7, 2022
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KAALI POSTER CONTROVERSY
The ‘smoking Kaali’ poster seems to have stirred up a hornet’s nest in the country with social media and the political spectrum up in arms against it.
The controversy erupted soon after filmmaker Leena Manimekalai shared the poster of the film on social media. The poster depicts a woman dressed in the costume of Goddess Kaali. She is seen smoking a cigarette in the photo. Along with her usual accoutrements of trishul (trident), and sickle, the actor playing the goddess is shown wielding the LGBTQ+ community’s pride flag.
Multiple FIRs have now been filed across India against filmmaker Leena Manimekalai.
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