MAPUSA
A Halloween party promotion depicting a Catholic nun wearing a cross around her neck has triggered a religious controversy in the State, with Club Salud in Ozrant, Anjuna, facing a backlash from residents and a police complaint alleging that the advertisement hurt the religious sentiments of the Catholic community.
With the tourism season gathering momentum and nightclubs along the Anjuna-Vagator coastline gearing up for Halloween celebrations, the controversy has put the spotlight on the limits of promotional campaigns used by entertainment venues to attract partygoers.
Club Salud’s online campaign for its three-day Halloween event, scheduled from October 30 to November 1, featured a nun wearing a cross and described the festival as “Halloween Paradise”.
The promotion promised patrons “dark magic”, “wicked energy” and “hauntingly unforgettable moments”, with the tagline: “Get ready for a wicked celebration that will haunt your memories long after the night ends where the nightmare begins…”
The imagery, however, did not go down well with sections of the local community, who accused the club of trivialising a sacred religious vocation to market a party. “The Christian sentiment was definitely hurt. Being a nun is a sacred vocation and she gives so much to society. Depicting her in such a way is derogatory and completely unacceptable,” said Jawish Moniz, a resident of Vagator.
A local of Anjuna, Roysal D’Souza said the incident reflected a tendency to take the Christian community for granted because its members did not usually respond aggressively to such provocations.
“We have often seen even in Hindi movies where gangsters are shown with crosses around their necks. The club management should not have shown the nun. They have hurt our sentiments,” D’Souza said.
The controversy escalated when Desmond Alvares, an Assagao resident and activist, lodged a complaint with the Anjuna police and other authorities, seeking criminal action against those responsible for the promotion.
In his complaint, Alvares objected to the depiction of a nun’s religious habit and the cross as part of a Halloween-themed campaign, arguing that the imagery was offensive to the Catholic community.
“A religious vocation is not a joke or fancy dress, but symbolises a life dedicated to God, prayer, sacrifice, humility and service to humanity. Freedom of expression must not come at the cost of religious dignity and respect,” Alvares stated in his complaint.
He has urged the police to register an FIR against club owner Ashwin Khalap, the leaseholder or manager and others allegedly involved in creating and promoting the advertisement.
