Durga Puja, a prominent Hindu festival celebrated predominantly in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, has once again transformed cities into vibrant showcases of art and social discourse. During Durga Pujo, Bengali Hindus worship Durga for five deliciously colorful days. One powerful installation even shows U.S. President Donald Trump as a demon. Kali puja The festival recognizes goddess Durga as the universal mother. It’s both a religious observance and a place of deep, fruitful and often fiery socio-political conversation.
From artistic to religious Idols of Goddess Durga are created during Durga Puja with great attention to detail. She is traditionally portrayed with ten arms, each wielding a unique celestial weapon, making the festival widely colorful and dynamic. She is known to often ride on the back of a lion, which represents her authority and energy. Luckily, this year’s festivities have been incredibly ambitious and artistic, most notably with this striking installation. It includes Trump, complete with a long hair simulator, six pack abs and face sculpting designed to recreate his appearance. Selecting Trump for the demon figure or Mahishasura in Hindu epic has stirred a feisty discussion. Both attendees and the public have weighed in passionately on this controversial decision.
The Artistic Vision Behind the Installation
The collective of artists and planners responsible for this year’s installation toiled in relative obscurity to surprise festival-goers with their artistic vision over the course of the week. Sanjay Basak, a TAC member, announced that the reveal of the demon was a closely held secret. It was only when the statue was unveiled that everybody found out the real story. The installation acts as public and critical intervention to today’s global trade realities and Trump’s economic agenda.
“It really is something that resonated with a lot of people,” – Sanjay Basak
The choice to make Trump the demon king fits neatly into a deep tradition of Durga Puja. This festival has a long history of mixing beautiful art with pointed political statements. Basak noted that Trump at the moment is piling tariffs on top of each other. This has turned into the big fight of the day. So, of course it makes sense that we should show it that way. In one sense, the installation is incredibly simple — ornate, but very simple. It challenges them to think about fundamental issues such as relations between nations and the nature of economic problems.
A Cultural Space for Critique
Durga Puja has functioned traditionally as a site of cultural and political conversation within West Bengal. The festival contributes to creating a landscape where art can be wielded as a tool for rebellion against power structures and societal ills. Basak stressed that these forms of cultural expression go beyond art and activism, saying they are the bedrock of the area’s culture.
“This kind of critique and social commentary is something that’s a part of our culture,” – Basak
Within this framing, Trump’s depiction as Mahishasura is deeply consequential. Primarily, though, it acts as a political advertisement aimed at both festival-goers and news outlets reporting on the spectacle. Tuneer Mukherjee, another member of the organizing team, remarked on this aspect: “Trump as Mahishasura is serving a political message to the people who are visiting the pandal (pavilion) and the mass media organizations who are covering it.”
The festival’s installations come not only from artists but as responses to the mood and mindset of local communities, an important note on civic engagement. This year, attendees have responded in various ways to the installation. Many have lauded its boldness, and others are deep in academic bread-pudding-baking mode—eager to work through critical discussions of its implications.
The Broader Context of U.S.-India Relations
This decision to cast Trump as a villain, quite fittingly so in the context of U.S.-India relations, carries a lot of significance. Trump’s economic interventionism has sent shockwaves through Indian industry and economic policymakers. His tariffs on Indian goods, up to 50% in many cases, are most alarming. The Indian government has made the case for its continued purchase of Russian crude oil during these tensions.
Basak articulated the sentiment many feel regarding Trump’s administration: “India and America had good relations previously but ever since Trump has come, he’s trying to suppress India, to push us over, to squash us.” This perspective underscores how local festivals like Durga Puja can encapsulate broader geopolitical narratives while fostering community discussions.
Durga Puja in West Bengal, illustrating the transformative nature and immense strength of art. It pushes back on authority, setting off contact and conversations that raise awareness on the issues that matter most. The installation depicting Trump is emblematic of how cultural celebrations can serve as platforms for expressing dissent and reflecting societal values.
