Mahua Moitra’s Kali accepts alcohol in Bengal. What happens in BJP-ruled Assam and Tripura?

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has stirred a nation-wide controversy by interpreting Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess. Taking part in India Today Conclave East held in Kolkata on July 5, she made the statement when asked about a film that had courted controversy after it had put up posters showing Goddess Kali smoking.

For me, Goddess Kali is a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess. And if you go to Tarapith (a major Shakti peeth in West Bengal's Birbhum district), you will see sadhus smoking. That is the version of Kali people worship (there). I, within Hinduism, being a Kali worshipper, have the right to imagine Kali in that way; that is my freedom,” she said.

“When you go to Sikkim, you will see that they offer whiskey to Goddess Kaali. But if you go to Uttar Pradesh, and if you tell them that you offer whiskey to the goddess as ‘prasad’, they will call it blasphemy,” added Moitra.

While Moitra’s party, Trinamool Congress distanced itself from her comments, Opposition BJP has demanded her arrest for hurting religious sentiments. Moitra has remained defiant saying that she never backed any film poster but stated only facts related to worship of Goddess Kali.

IndiaTodayNE.in spoke to priests and devotees to seek their opinion on Moitra’s interpretation of Kali as an alcohol accepting goddess. Here is what we found.