​A recent advertisement by the West Bengal government promoting the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple in Digha has attracted attention due to an unusual error. The double-page newspaper ad, published on April 30: the day of the temple's consecration ceremony attended by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, included a navigation map marking a location labeled "Female Vibrators in Digha."

The West Bengal government published a big advertisement in newspapers across India, in both Bengali and English to promote the new Jagannath temple in Digha. However this strange mistake in the ad has become a major embarrassment for Mamata Banerjee's government.

The mistake comes at a time when the state government was trying to connect with Hindu voters by supporting the temple project. This move was seen as an attempt to regain the trust of Hindus in Bengal, especially after the Mamata-led government was criticised for giving in to protests by Muslim groups over the new waqf law.

The West Bengal government's two-page newspaper ad about the new Jagannath temple in Digha included detailed information like a picture of the temple, a large photo of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, travel distances from major locations, and even a QR code to watch the consecration ceremony live.

However, a major blunder caught everyone's attention: the navigation map in the ad, which shows places around the temple, mistakenly included a pinned location labelled "Female Vibrators in Digha." This strange and inappropriate entry seems to have accidentally slipped into the ad, causing public embarrassment.

The controversial entry "Female Vibrators in Digha" was marked on the map with a blue shopping bag icon, indicating it as a commercial location. Oddly, it appeared between Amrabati Park and Jagannath Ghat, a religious site, in the official government ad for the Jagannath Temple inauguration.

It’s believed the navigation map used in the ad was likely taken from an online source like Google Maps and wasn’t properly reviewed before printing. The mistake went unnoticed during quality checks and made it to major newspapers across India. Social media users quickly spotted the error, with one user from Bengaluru calling it an “unforgettable lesson” in why a fresh pair of eyes and double-checking Google Maps screenshots are critical before publishing anything official.

Karthik, the man who spotted the mistake in the ad, explained that while the map may look small in the online picture, it was quite large and clear in the printed newspaper. He said that the wrong listing stood out clearly because the map was meant to help people locate the temple.

Reacting to the issue, BJP leader Amit Malviya strongly criticised the Mamata Banerjee government. He said the error was “deeply disgraceful” and claimed it was not just a mistake but a deliberate insult to Hindu beliefs and Lord Jagannath’s devotees. He also said it showed the government’s lack of true devotion and accused it of using religion for political purposes.

Digha, 180 km from Kolkata, is a popular beach town for weekend trips and honeymoons. Recently, massage parlours and spas with shady reputations have appeared, drawing students and young professionals.
Lord Jagannath, worshipped mainly in Puri, Odisha (345 km from Digha), is also loved by Bengalis. A new Jagannath temple in Digha was opened on April 30 after three years of construction.