The government of Sikkim has recently addressed concerns regarding the portrayal of religious symbols, issuing a significant advisory from its Ecclesiastical Department. This move comes after a recent International Tattoo Convention sparked considerable controversy due to what were widely considered ‘objectionable’ depictions of deities in tattoos.
The official warning, released on October 13, 2025, specifically highlighted that certain tattoos displayed during the event were deemed disrespectful, particularly when positioned below the waist. The advisory firmly stated that such portrayals of religious imagery are deeply offensive to the profound faith, core beliefs, and established customs of the region, emphasizing the critical need for cultural sensitivity.
The department’s message urges all individuals, including professional tattoo artists and enthusiasts, to exercise the utmost care and caution when creating or displaying any artistic work that relates to religious traditions. It explicitly states that no artwork should be conceived or exhibited in a manner that could potentially hurt religious sentiments or show any form of disrespect towards any community within the State.
This advisory was a direct response to the alleged inappropriate depictions of religious deities observed during the International Tattoo Convention, which took place at Saramsa between October 9 and 12. Following the public outcry and the subsequent official warning, the organizers of the event have since formally extended their apologies to both the people of Sikkim and the Ecclesiastical Department.