Bhubaneswar, Mar 13: A foreign woman’s tattoo of Lord Jagannath on her thigh has sparked widespread outrage in Odisha. The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, later tendered an apology.

The incident came to light when the tattoo parlour posted the woman’s photo with the tattoo on their Instagram account. The move turned out to be a huge mistake as it ignited an outrage among religious groups and social media users.

Many called it a blatant act of cultural insensitivity, while most of them slammed the Bhubaneswar-based tattoo parlour for agreeing to such move.

The woman, after finding out about the outrage, issued an apology. “I never intended to be disrespectful. I am a devotee of Lord Jagannath. I made a mistake, and I deeply regret it. Once the tattooed area heals, I will cover it up. Please forgive me,” said the foreign woman.

As per reports, members of the Hindu Sena, a prominent religious organisation, have filed a formal complaint at the Saheed Nagar Police Station, citing cultural sacrilege and demanding an immediate investigation.

The incident definitely emphasises the need for sensitivity. It also underscores the need of understanding in cultural expressions given the potential for misunderstandings in a diverse country like India.

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