Tattoo of Hindu Deity Sparks Outrage in India
A tattoo artist in Bhubaneswar, India, was arrested after a woman had a local deity's likeness inked on her thigh. The tattoo, depicting Lord Jagannath, sparked outrage from Hindu groups and devotees.
The tattoo parlor owner, Rocky Ranjan Bisoi, claimed that one of his artists, Ashwini Kumar Pradhan, tattooed the Italian woman's thigh at her request. Bisoi posted a picture of the woman and her tattoo on his WhatsApp status, which went viral on social media and sparked outrage.
Subrat Kumar Mohanty, a self-described social activist, filed a police complaint against Bisoi after finding the photo online. He argued that the parlor owner should have prevented the foreigner from getting the deity's image tattooed on "an unsuitable body location."
Amid the outrage, Bisoi and the foreign woman issued separate video apologies on social media. The woman, reportedly an Italian NGO worker in Odisha's Kandhamal region, apologized saying she was a devotee and did not intend disrespect. She promised to remove the tattoo once it had healed.
The incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding religious imagery and the importance of cultural awareness when visiting foreign countries.
Similar Incidents Involving Foreigners
This is not the first time foreigners have been accused of hurting the religious sentiments of local people in Asian nations. In 2023, a Russian man was deported from Indonesia after a viral photo showed him stripping atop Bali's sacred Mount Agung. Despite apologizing, he was reportedly banned from returning to the country for at least six months.
10 Comments
G P Floyd Jr
Rather than arresting artists, let's spread awareness and show compassion towards people unaware of norms.
Martin L King
She has promised to remove the tattoo, demonstrating sincere regret. Forgiveness is part of spirituality too.
Rolihlahla
Travelers who sincerely apologize deserve patience and a chance to learn from their experiences.
Martin L King
Intent matters. It's clear neither she nor the tattoo artist meant harm or disrespect.
Africa
Her apology seemed sincere. We should embrace this as an educational moment for everyone involved.
Habibi
She stated she's devoted to the deity. Perhaps she wanted a permanent symbol of her respect and love.
ZmeeLove
Spiritual icons are sacred, not accessories to tattoo in inappropriate places. Totally insensitive!
Muchacho
Overreacting to honest mistakes just creates negativity. Let's choose understanding instead.
Muchacha
The tattoo parlor has equal responsibility. They should have known better and guided the tourist appropriately.
Bella Ciao
Thinking it's cool or trendy doesn't justify hurting religious feelings. Shameful action!