Overview

• The Khagra Crematorium Ghat Puja in Baharampur displayed a Mahishasura resembling President Donald Trump, drawing large crowds after an inauguration attended by the town’s mayor.
• Committee members framed the depiction as a response to Trump’s trade policies, citing a claimed 50% tariff and a sense of “betrayal” toward India, a claim not independently verified in the coverage.
• The idol was crafted by artist Asim (Ashim) Pal, who was quoted in one local report as saying any resemblance was a coincidence, highlighting a dispute over intent.
• Videos and photos from the pandal spread widely on social media, with reactions ranging from amusement to objections to politics entering the festival, while organisers described local feedback as supportive.
• Coverage placed the display within a tradition of topical puja themes, recalling a 2018 Telangana temple dedicated to Trump and a 2024 lookalike Mahishasura created by the same sculptor.