Come the first week of September, and the heart of a Bong beats faster in excitement. It’s time for pandal-hopping and Goddess Durga’s homecoming.
Celebrating the theme of Durga Pujo, Fortune Foods recently released an advertisement showing a Bengali couple eating eating fish and meat.
The ad ended up angering many in the Hindutva group as Durga Pujo collides with Navratri, and the latter is a time when North Indians go on a fast and stay away from non-vegetarian food.
The company, in response, quickly put out an apology. But that, in turn, upset the Bengalis, who said if the ad is aimed at capturing the ‘true spirit of Durga Pujo’, they shouldn’t succumb to such statements.
What Is the Ad All About?
The advertisement opens with a Bengali woman, featuring YouTuber Sawan Dutta, singing, “The woman of the house are tense and the house resembles a land of hungry rakshasas,”. A man comes in responding, “My hunger is invincible, let the war begin,”.
The ad goes on to show the woman cook various veg and non-veg Pujo-themed dishes, and ends with the punch line, ‘May the Pujo be prosperous, may the pet pujo (worship of the stomach, as in eating) begin’.
abThe Hindutva Anger
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, a Hindutva group, posted their objections to the advertisement on their website, saying it was an insult to their faith.
“Along with this, non-vegetarian food is prohibited during Navrati [the worship of Goddess Durga in North India]. In this advertisement, the husband fasts for Navratri but on Navami, the wife feeds the husband mutton kosha and fish made using Fortune Oil. Since this food is so tasty, the husband is forced to break his fast. This is an egregious insult to our Hindu faith.”
They took to social media to voice their dissent with the hashtag #BoycottFortuneFoods.
#BoycottFortuneFoods
👉#Navaratri के अवसर पर @FortuneFoods ने विज्ञापन के माध्यम से किया मां दुर्गादेवी का घोर अपमान !
👉धर्माभिमानी हिन्दू यहाँ अपना विरोध प्रविष्ट कर रहे है
Email fortune@adaniwilmar.in / exports@adaniwilmar.in
👉Toll Free 1800 233 9999https://t.co/QP78PaXl0q pic.twitter.com/2kP7TB3uTu
— HinduJagrutiOrg (@HinduJagrutiOrg) October 10, 2018
Many echoed their sentiments:
Shame on Fortune Foods for denigrating Hindu Gods just for sake of marketing.
I will stop using your products from today #BoycottFortuneFoods #SaveHinduism
— Swapnil Bhosale🚩 (@s3630) October 10, 2018
#BoycottFortuneFoods ......
For their own profit they are using our deities... pic.twitter.com/HXONqv2M6h
— Abhishek Mandhare (@HJS_AM719) October 11, 2018
Goddess Durga is revered by billions of Hindus world over.
It is regrettable that on eve of #Navratri2018 @FortuneFoods
has brought out ad campaign denigrating the deity!
Will definitely stop using your products!#BoycottFortuneFoods
— Brahma Tej (@baliga_2012) October 10, 2018
Why don't you show mother Mary in this manner during Christmas !!!! #BoycottFortuneFoods
— Anshu Sant (@anshuagarkar) October 11, 2018
An Apology That Triggered Another Controversy
Fortune Foods responded to their post on Facebook by apologising for hurting religious sentiments.
“It has come to our notice that the Pet Pujo video has hurt the sensibilities of many communities, as it depicts consumption of non-vegetarian food during Navaratri. This was not intentional and we will withdraw the video from circulation other than in West Bengal where it is common practice to eat both vegetarian and non vegetarian food. We wish to respect all communities and apologize unconditionally if we have hurt anyone unknowingly.”
While this may have pleased the Hindutva groups, it angered Bengalis.
Bongs argued that if the ad was meant for them, issuing an apology for showing non-vegetarian food being cooked in a Bengali household, which is the norm there, is like embarrassing the Bengalis.
They took to Twitter as well, to boycott Fortune Foods but for other reasons.
If you are Bengali & have any self-respect left in you, you must join the movement to #boycottfortunefoods #বয়কটফরচুন. Fortune Food company agrees that non-veg food is offensive during #DurgaPujo. Such regressive culture is offensive to any cultured Bengali, Hindu or Muslim.
— Garga Chatterjee (@GargaC) October 13, 2018
the one with meat here is the Bengalis...and the 'pure vegetarian' in the cartoon is sanghis attacking Bengalis over our food. After beef,now they are after our chicken mutton fish also. Hindu rashtra will be hell for bengalis. #BoycottFortuneFoods pic.twitter.com/ptQpFrtadU
— Saileena (@saileenas) October 12, 2018
@FortuneFoods want business in Bengal? behave like a Bengali. We Do eat fish, meat during Puja and happily so. Your unfortunate apology will not brighten your business prospect in Bengal. We demand unconditional apology from you for hurting Bengali sentiment#boycottfortunefoods
— Jaini (@IchbinUjjaini) October 12, 2018
Bengalis eat meat during Pujo. At least fact check before starting a social media campaign .@HinduJagrutiOrg #boycottfortunefoods
A vegetarian Durga Puja? Fortune Foods’ apology for ad showing Bengalis eating fish sparks anger https://t.co/TtPBlNxjh4 via @scroll_in
— Prasannata Patwa (@prasannata1) October 12, 2018
(Source: The Quint)
Celebrating the theme of Durga Pujo, Fortune Foods recently released an advertisement showing a Bengali couple eating eating fish and meat.
The ad ended up angering many in the Hindutva group as Durga Pujo collides with Navratri, and the latter is a time when North Indians go on a fast and stay away from non-vegetarian food.
 |
| Fortune Foods ad showing meat served during Navratri has angered Hindu groups. Their apology in response has upset Bengalis. (Photo Courtesy: Screengrab) |
What Is the Ad All About?
The advertisement opens with a Bengali woman, featuring YouTuber Sawan Dutta, singing, “The woman of the house are tense and the house resembles a land of hungry rakshasas,”. A man comes in responding, “My hunger is invincible, let the war begin,”.
The ad goes on to show the woman cook various veg and non-veg Pujo-themed dishes, and ends with the punch line, ‘May the Pujo be prosperous, may the pet pujo (worship of the stomach, as in eating) begin’.
abThe Hindutva Anger
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, a Hindutva group, posted their objections to the advertisement on their website, saying it was an insult to their faith.
“Along with this, non-vegetarian food is prohibited during Navrati [the worship of Goddess Durga in North India]. In this advertisement, the husband fasts for Navratri but on Navami, the wife feeds the husband mutton kosha and fish made using Fortune Oil. Since this food is so tasty, the husband is forced to break his fast. This is an egregious insult to our Hindu faith.”
They took to social media to voice their dissent with the hashtag #BoycottFortuneFoods.
#BoycottFortuneFoods
👉#Navaratri के अवसर पर @FortuneFoods ने विज्ञापन के माध्यम से किया मां दुर्गादेवी का घोर अपमान !
👉धर्माभिमानी हिन्दू यहाँ अपना विरोध प्रविष्ट कर रहे है
Email fortune@adaniwilmar.in / exports@adaniwilmar.in
👉Toll Free 1800 233 9999https://t.co/QP78PaXl0q pic.twitter.com/2kP7TB3uTu
— HinduJagrutiOrg (@HinduJagrutiOrg) October 10, 2018
Many echoed their sentiments:
Shame on Fortune Foods for denigrating Hindu Gods just for sake of marketing.
I will stop using your products from today #BoycottFortuneFoods #SaveHinduism
— Swapnil Bhosale🚩 (@s3630) October 10, 2018
#BoycottFortuneFoods ......
For their own profit they are using our deities... pic.twitter.com/HXONqv2M6h
— Abhishek Mandhare (@HJS_AM719) October 11, 2018
Goddess Durga is revered by billions of Hindus world over.
It is regrettable that on eve of #Navratri2018 @FortuneFoods
has brought out ad campaign denigrating the deity!
Will definitely stop using your products!#BoycottFortuneFoods
— Brahma Tej (@baliga_2012) October 10, 2018
Why don't you show mother Mary in this manner during Christmas !!!! #BoycottFortuneFoods
— Anshu Sant (@anshuagarkar) October 11, 2018
An Apology That Triggered Another Controversy
Fortune Foods responded to their post on Facebook by apologising for hurting religious sentiments.
“It has come to our notice that the Pet Pujo video has hurt the sensibilities of many communities, as it depicts consumption of non-vegetarian food during Navaratri. This was not intentional and we will withdraw the video from circulation other than in West Bengal where it is common practice to eat both vegetarian and non vegetarian food. We wish to respect all communities and apologize unconditionally if we have hurt anyone unknowingly.”
While this may have pleased the Hindutva groups, it angered Bengalis.
Bongs argued that if the ad was meant for them, issuing an apology for showing non-vegetarian food being cooked in a Bengali household, which is the norm there, is like embarrassing the Bengalis.
They took to Twitter as well, to boycott Fortune Foods but for other reasons.
If you are Bengali & have any self-respect left in you, you must join the movement to #boycottfortunefoods #বয়কটফরচুন. Fortune Food company agrees that non-veg food is offensive during #DurgaPujo. Such regressive culture is offensive to any cultured Bengali, Hindu or Muslim.
— Garga Chatterjee (@GargaC) October 13, 2018
the one with meat here is the Bengalis...and the 'pure vegetarian' in the cartoon is sanghis attacking Bengalis over our food. After beef,now they are after our chicken mutton fish also. Hindu rashtra will be hell for bengalis. #BoycottFortuneFoods pic.twitter.com/ptQpFrtadU
— Saileena (@saileenas) October 12, 2018
@FortuneFoods want business in Bengal? behave like a Bengali. We Do eat fish, meat during Puja and happily so. Your unfortunate apology will not brighten your business prospect in Bengal. We demand unconditional apology from you for hurting Bengali sentiment#boycottfortunefoods
— Jaini (@IchbinUjjaini) October 12, 2018
Bengalis eat meat during Pujo. At least fact check before starting a social media campaign .@HinduJagrutiOrg #boycottfortunefoods
A vegetarian Durga Puja? Fortune Foods’ apology for ad showing Bengalis eating fish sparks anger https://t.co/TtPBlNxjh4 via @scroll_in
— Prasannata Patwa (@prasannata1) October 12, 2018
(Source: The Quint)
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