“That’s why we have depicted Trump as this demon, vanquished by the powerful mother Durga.”.
A pandal, or pavilion, depicted US President Donald Trump as the asur (demon), during the Hindu festival of Durga Puja this year in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
During the five-day festival of Durga Puja, entire cities transform into a sprawling, open-air art gallery where the mythological battle between the goddess and her demon is reimagined to reflect contemporary anxieties.
Worshippers immerse an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga in the river Ganges, marking the end of Durga Puja celebrations, in Kolkata, India, on October 4, 2025.
Hindu devotees perform a traditional Bengali dance in front of an idol of the goddess Durga in Kolkata, India, on October 3, 2025.
“This kind of critique and social commentary is something that’s a part of our culture,” said Basak, from the Trump installation’s organizing committee.
“Now that Trump is just imposing tariffs upon tariffs upon tariffs, this is the big issue of the day. »