On Monday, the Indian High Commission in Canada has published a statement on the ‘smoking Kaali’ poster, which was showcased by the filmmaker Leena Manimekalai and solicited the Canadian authorities and the event organizers to remove such naked material.
The High Commission explained that they have received complaints from Hindu community leaders in Canada about contemptuous portrayal of Hindu Gods on the poster of a film presented as a component of the Under the Trent project at the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto. The statement reads, “Our Consulate General in Toronto has conveyed these concerns to the organizers of the event.”
Several Hindu groups have approached authorities in Canada to take action. They urged the Canadian authorities and the event organizers to remove the unwanted poster, which shows a woman dressed in the costume of Goddess Kalli. She is seen smoking a cigarette in the photo. Along with her usual accoutrements of trishul and sickle, the actor playing the goddess is shown wielding the LGBTQ+ community’s pride flag.