Kerala Lottery Dept In Trouble Over 'Menstrual Blood On Shiva Linga' Image On Ticket

Last Updated:December 31, 2025, 09:18 IST

The artwork used on the SK 34 Suvarna Kerala lottery ticket has triggered controversy, with the BJP accusing the Kerala government of hurting Hindu sentiments

The image appears on the SK 34 series lottery ticket, which is scheduled to be drawn on January 2, 2026. (News18)

The Kerala government’s ‘Suvarna Kerala’ lottery has landed in controversy with the BJP and the Hindu Aikya Vedi raising objections to an image printed on the ticket, alleging that it hurts religious sentiments of Hindus.

BJP state general secretary S Suresh claimed that the lottery ticket features an image depicting menstrual blood flowing onto a Shiva Linga. The image appears on the SK 34 series lottery ticket, which is scheduled to be drawn on January 2, 2026.

Hindu Aikya Vedi state president RV Babu has filed a complaint with the Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner regarding the matter.

In a Facebook post, Babu alleged that the Pinarayi Vijayan government and its party have made insulting Hindu beliefs a “regular practice". He claimed that the government draws inspiration from what he described as “mentally disturbed individuals" who encourage such actions. He further accused organised groups of attempting to destroy Sanatana Dharma in Kerala and warned that failure by the Hindu community to respond would lead to self-destruction.

BJP’s S Suresh also reacted strongly, questioning whether the alleged insult to Hindu beliefs would ever stop. He accused “communist minds" of portraying sexual perversion as culture and claimed that the depiction of menstrual blood on the Shiva Linga in the Suvarna Kerala lottery ticket amounted to obscenity and an insult to believers. He urged people to protest against the issue.

Responding to the criticism, the Kerala State Lottery Department issued a clarification through a Facebook post, stating that the artwork was not intended to depict or misuse any religious symbols.

According to the department, the artwork used on lottery tickets is selected under an agreement with the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, which provides paintings by different artists for publication. It said that hundreds of such artworks have already been featured on state lottery tickets over the years.

The department said the painting used for the SK 34 Suvarna Kerala lottery was also sourced from the Lalithakala Akademi. It added that, on examination, no religious symbols or distorted representations of such symbols were found in the artwork.

“As the painting is abstract in nature, it is not possible to clearly define or interpret the forms shown in it," it said.

The Lottery Department further clarified that it had not displayed or misused any religious symbols in any manner, and urged people to avoid what it called “misinterpretations". It also appealed for cooperation, noting that the state lottery system provides livelihood and support to lakhs of ordinary people.

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