Upset Hindus are urging Yokohama (Japan) based clothing company Ametsuchi for immediate withdrawal of socks carrying image of Hindu deity Lord Ganesh; calling it highly inappropriate.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to adorn or wrapped around one’s feet/legs. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also urged Ametsuchi CEO to offer a formal apology; besides withdrawing “Tie Dye Ganesha Socks” from company’s online store, as well as from showrooms and other retailers/stockists.
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed noted.
Zed further said that such trivialization of Hindu deities was disturbing to the Hindus. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt the followers, Zed added.
In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking.
Ametsuchi, whose tagline is “Walk with the Sun”, states: “We create original design boho apparel, accessories and lifestyle goods”. Products include women-men-kids clothing, accessories and lifestyle. The objectionable handmade Ganesha socks for women were priced at $8.
Source: World Hindu Network