CM apologises after West Bengal government advertisement depicts Durga with 11 hands instead of 10

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of West Bengal has issued an apology to the citizens of the state after the government's advertisement portraying Goddess Durga with 11 hands, instead of the traditional 10 hands, was published in newspapers on September 7, 2026. The opposition parties criticized the advertisement for "distorting" the deity, while the BJP's Samik Bhattacharya downplayed the issue, stating that the extra hand only makes Durga "stronger."

Adhikari acknowledged the error and warned those responsible, promising that the government would be more vigilant in the future. The advertisement, which appeared in several local newspapers, sparked a heated debate on social media and among political circles.