A Durga Puja pandal in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district is generating intense controversy and massive crowds by transforming the traditional demons into caricatures of prominent international figures. Berhampore is renowned for its theme-based pandals, but this year’s blend of religious iconography and explicit geopolitical commentary is making headlines.

The ‘Asura’ That Went Viral

At the Khagra Sadhak Narendra Smriti Sangha pandal, visitors are reportedly more interested in the figures of evil than the Goddess Durga herself, drawn by the “viral Asura” display:

Dr. Muhammad Yunus as Mahishasura: The central demon, Mahishasura—the embodiment of evil defeated beneath Durga’s foot—has been sculpted with an unmistakable likeness to Nobel Peace Laureate and Bangladeshi economist, Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

Shehbaz Sharif’s Effigy: The provocation continues with the Durga idol holding a severed human head (narmunda) in one hand. The face of this severed head is explicitly modeled after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The organizing committee’s choice to use the images of living, high-profile figures as symbols of destruction is being called an “extraordinary and controversial step.” Local reports confirm that the pandal has effectively turned a religious festival into a stage for sharp political theatre.

Berhampore’s History of Thematic Displays

This isn’t the first time Berhampore organizers have used their art for political statements. The region has a history of using the festive platform for social critique; for instance, a nearby committee, the Khagra Smashan Durgotsav Committee, previously featured an Asura modeled after former U.S. President Donald Trump.

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