'Minimum decency should be maintained': Kolkata model’s outfit for Durga Puja pandal sparks debate

NEW DELHI: Hemoshree Bhadra, a model from Kolkata who claims to have won the Miss Kolkata 2016 title, has become the subject of intense social media criticism after wearing a revealing crop top to a Durga Puja pandal in the city.
The photographs, shared on Instagram, show her posing with two friends who were also dressed in outfits that many deemed inappropriate for a religious celebration.

One of Bhadra's friends wore a long black gown with a thigh-high slit, while the other was seen in an orange minidress paired with knee-length boots. Social media users were quick to label all three outfits as "indecent" and "vulgar," expressing their disapproval of the women's choice of attire at a religious site.
Sannati Mitra, the model-influencer who shared the picture on Instagram, wrote, "It was so Rebellious, we never thought it was possible, being a girl we always knew our body is 'BAD' but life is like that it gives new examples and experiences."
Outrage over the Instagram post
The photograph, shared by several people on social media platform X, has garnered tens of thousands of views and invited severe backlash.
Critics accused the three women of turning a religious celebration into a photo opportunity to gain more attention, with hundreds of X users expressing outrage over their choice of clothes while visiting Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata.
“Perfect example of third class,” wrote one X user.
Another wrote: "Who allowed them to Pandal?"
“I know it's your choice of what to wear and what no to wear but please don't wear this type of dress near goddess,” another person noted.
"This is disrespectful ! Always cover your head in temples ," echoed another user.
Model responds on Instagram post
In the comments section of the post, Hemoshree Bhadra responded to critics regarding the backlash on her Instagram post.
Hemoshree wrote, "Well People are asking was there a dress code? We are not invisible entities. if there was they must have stopped us. Right??? Now if it hurted your emotions. Why we should even care your emotions? We have seen that in the pandal there were many statues, what were showing physical beauty of women."

"May be the pandal or temple authorities are allowed to use the women physical beauty, but women are not .OR now you can say that is work of art. But you are not well we are illiterate people here. I see many scholars are commenting in this post. I would love to understand the matter. please clearly explain," she added.