A tattoo of Bhagwan Jagannath on the thigh of a foreign woman has resulted in the arrest of a tattoo artist and his assistant in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The incident has ignited significant public outrage, with numerous citizens filing complaints, claiming the act insulted their religious sentiments. The owner of the tattoo studio, identified as Rocky, and his assistant were taken into custody on Monday evening after a case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone-5) Biswaranjan Senapati, the Italian woman visited the tattoo studio in the Saheed Nagar area on Sunday and requested a tattoo of Lord Jagannath on her thigh. Tensions escalated when the tattoo artist shared a video of the process on social media, which quickly went viral, drawing criticism from devotees who deemed the placement of the deity’s image inappropriate and offensive.
“The video went viral, leading to widespread condemnation from devotees, who felt that depicting Bhagwan Jagannath in such a manner was disrespectful. In response, we arrested the shop owner and his assistant under Sections 196, 299, and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” ACP Senapati said. While action was taken against the tattoo artist and his assistant, no charges have been filed against the Italian woman. Authorities have not clarified whether she was aware of the religious sensitivities regarding the tattoo’s placement.
It is noteworthy that the incident, which occurred at the ‘Rocky Tattooz’ shop in Bhubaneswar, prompted protests from religious organisations and devotees, who claimed the tattoo hurt their religious sentiments. Members of the Hindu Sena filed a formal complaint at the Saheed Nagar Police Station, accusing both the tattoo shop owner and the woman of disrespecting Lord Jagannath and his devotees. They have called for strict action against the shop’s owner.
The controversy sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with netizens and religious groups urging a more respectful approach when depicting culturally significant figures like Lord Jagannath. The tattoo’s placement on such an intimate area was perceived as an affront to the deity’s sanctity.
In response to the backlash, Rocky Ranjan Bishoyi, the owner of the tattoo shop, along with the foreign woman, issued public apologies through social media videos. Bishoyi explained, “A foreign woman came to my shop requesting a tattoo of Lord Jagannath on her thigh. Our staff advised her to place it on her hand instead, but she insisted on having it on her thigh. I sincerely apologise for the incident. I wasn’t present at the shop at that time. The artist will either cover up or remove the tattoo after 25 days, as removal before then could cause infection. The woman has promised to return to have it either covered or removed.”
The foreign woman also expressed regret, stating, “I never intended to disrespect anyone. I am a devotee of Lord Jagannath, and I made a mistake. I deeply regret my actions. Once the area heals, I will cover it up. Please forgive me.”
