During Saturday’s centuries-old Marbat festival in Nagpur, a massive effigy of US President Donald Trump was paraded through the streets as residents expressed their ire at Washington’s decision to put high tariffs on Indian goods.
The centerpiece of the customary procession was the tall, clay and hay sculpture of Trump. Alongside it were placards with scathing statements like: “They end up regretting India’s strength by imposing tariffs to intimidate us,” “The tariffs imposed on our goods will only ruin their business,” and “American uncle imposes restrictions on India, but ends up taking Russian products itself.”
A massive effigy of Trump is visible among hundreds of people assembled in the parade in a video of the Nagpur Marbat festival that was released by news agency ANI. Traditionally, ritual and social commentary have been blended in Nagpur’s annual Marbat festival, which takes place on the second day of Pola.
The ceremony, which dates back to the 19th century, was created to fend off evil spirits by using Marbat effigies, which stand in for societal evils. The festival has developed over time into a forum for expressing popular dissatisfaction and parodying current political events.
The Trump effigy this year demonstrated the broad opposition to the most recent US tariffs. An executive order putting an extra 25% duty on Indian imports, bringing the total to 50%, was signed by President Trump on August 6. Washington defended the action by pointing to India’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil, which funds Moscow’s conflict in Ukraine.
Indian exports are among the most severely impacted by US trade restrictions, with the first portion of the tariffs now in effect and the second tranche set to take effect on August 27.