A tattoo of Lord Jagannath on a foreign woman’s thigh has triggered widespread outrage in Odisha, leading to the arrest of two individuals—the tattoo artist and the owner of the tattoo parlour—police officials confirmed on Monday.

The controversy erupted after a photo of the tattoo, drawn at a parlour in Bhubaneswar, went viral on social media. The image sparked protests from Jagannath devotees, who expressed their strong discontent, calling the placement of the sacred deity’s image on an “inappropriate” body part disrespectful.

Devotees and various religious groups staged demonstrations, demanding strict action against those responsible. “Lord Jagannath is deeply revered by the people of Odisha. Placing his image on a person’s thigh is unacceptable and hurts our religious sentiments,” said a protester.

Following the backlash, police launched an investigation and arrested the tattoo artist who inked the image, along with the owner of the tattoo studio. Authorities are also questioning the foreign national who got the tattoo, though no action has been taken against her so far.

The incident has reignited discussions on cultural sensitivity and religious respect, with many urging greater awareness when depicting sacred symbols in body art. Meanwhile, law enforcement officials have urged people to maintain peace and refrain from taking matters into their own hands.