A hoarding featuring a picture of former adult movie star Mia Khalifa at a religious gathering in Tamil Nadu has gone viral, igniting widespread debate and controversy. The billboard, which was part of the ‘Aadi’ festival celebrations in the Kancheepuram district, was erected at the Nagathamman and Selliyamman temples in Kuruvimalai.
The ‘Aadi’ festival, celebrated across Tamil Nadu in honor of Goddess Amman (Parvati), draws thousands of devotees every year. The festival is marked by grand celebrations, with villagers participating enthusiastically in rituals and offerings. However, this year, one hoarding stood out for all the wrong reasons.
The controversial hoarding, illuminated with lights, featured an image of Mia Khalifa seemingly carrying a “paal kudam” or milk vessel, a traditional offering made at temples during the festival. The image was edited to blend seamlessly with pictures of deities, creating a startling juxtaposition that quickly caught the attention of onlookers.
In addition to Mia Khalifa’s image, the hoarding also included photos of the men who were responsible for its creation, presented in an Aadhaar card-style format. As photos of the billboard began circulating on social media, they sparked a heated debate, with many questioning how such an image could have been included in a religious festival.
The local police were notified of the incident, and the authorities swiftly took action to remove the hoarding. According to a report by news agency IANS, the Magaral Police Station was responsible for taking down the billboard. However, the local authorities have yet to provide an explanation for how Mia Khalifa’s image ended up on the hoarding, leaving it unclear whether this was a deliberate act or an unintended mistake.
