A controversy has erupted in Kerala over an image featured on the Kerala government's Suvarna Keralam (SK 34) lottery ticket, with Hindu organizations and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that it depicts menstrual blood flowing onto a Shiva Linga. These groups claim the image, sourced from the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, insults Hindu religious sentiments and is blasphemous. The lottery ticket, in the SK 34 series, has a draw date set for January 2, 2026, and offers a first prize of ₹1 crore.
Hindu Aikya Vedi state president, R.V. Babu, has filed a formal complaint with the Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner. Leaders from the Hindu Aikya Vedi assert that the abstract image on the lottery ticket includes what appears to be a Shiva Linga, a three-petaled lotus, and a dripping red substance, which they interpret as menstrual blood being offered to the deity.
BJP state general secretary, Adv. S. Suresh, has also voiced strong opposition, stating that it's time to stop insulting Hindus and Hindu religious beliefs. He criticized "Communist brains that express sexual perversions as culture" and called for believers to protest. Suresh accused the government of mocking Hindu symbols. R.V. Babu echoed these sentiments, alleging that an organized group is working to destroy Sanatana Dharma in Kerala and that the state government, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, has made it a habit to constantly insult Hindu beliefs. He further wrote on Facebook that the government's inspiration may be the support of "mentally ill people" who applaud such actions.
In response to the controversy, the Kerala State Lottery Department issued a clarification, denying any intention to depict or misuse religious symbols. The department stated that the artwork is sourced from the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi as per an agreement, with hundreds of such artworks already featured on lottery tickets over the years. The department added that the painting used for the SK 34 Suvarna Kerala lottery was also sourced from the Akademi and that no religious symbols or distorted representations were found upon examination.
The Lottery Department further clarified that the artwork is abstract and cannot be clearly defined or interpreted. They urged people to avoid "misinterpretations" and appealed for cooperation, emphasizing that the state lottery system provides livelihood and support to lakhs of ordinary people. The Directorate of Kerala State Lotteries also stated that no religious symbols were depicted or misused in the lottery ticket.
This is not the first time the Kerala Lottery Department has faced scrutiny. In October 2025, representatives of the Kerala State Vyapari Vyavasayi Samithi were charged with conducting an illegal lottery that mimicked the official Kerala Lottery, impacting state lottery sales.
