Sarasvati Idol Without Saree At Tripura College Attracts Ire; ABVP, Bajrang Dal Join Protest

An event of Saraswati Puja at a government college in Tripura attracted the ire of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Bajrang Dal after a video, making the rounds across social media platforms, depicted a Saraswati idol without a traditional saree. The students of the college crafted it.

ABVP members raised concern over the “vulgarity” as the idol was depicted without traditional Indian attire. The protest was later joined by Bajrang Dal supporters.

The general secretary of the ABVP unit in Tripura, Dibakar Acharjee, led the protest asserting that the idol of Goddess Saraswati was sculptured in a ‘wrong’ and ‘vulgar’ way. “As we all know, today is Basant Panchami, and Goddess Saraswati is worshipped all over the country. In the very morning, we all got the news that in the Government Art and Craft College, the idol of Goddess Saraswati was sculptured in a very wrong and vulgar way,” NDTV quoted Acharjee as saying.

The enraged people forced the college authorities to drape the idol with a saree. ABVP demanded stern action against the college authorities. They also sought Chief Minister Manik Saha’s intervention in the matter.

College authorities said their intentions were not to hurt religious sentiments and the portrait was carved while adhering to the traditional sculpture forms observed in Hindu temples.

Police reached the scene but no formal complaint was registered by any side.