Exclusive: California: American apparel company, Liquid Dreams has removed Hindu Goddesss Kali Booty Shorts, Hindu God Ganesha Leggings and Ganesha Yoga Shorts carrying images of these Hindu deities after upset American Hindus protested calling these “highly insensitive and inappropriate”.
These three products were from the company’s website www.liquiddreams.com.
Distinguished Hindu statesman and President of Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed, who spearheaded the protest, in a statement in Nevada today, thanked Liquid Dreams for understanding the concerns of Hindu community, which thought that placing images of Lord Ganesha and goddess Kali on such products was insensitive. They were, however, still waiting for a formal apology from the company and its CEO, Zed added.
Zed suggested that companies like Liquid Dreams should send their senior executives for training in religious and cultural sensitivity so that they had an understanding of the feelings of customers and communities when introducing new products or launching advertising campaigns.
Rajan Zed had said that Lord Ganesha and goddess Kali were highly revered in Hinduism and were meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to adorn one’s legs, thighs, groin, genitals and pelvis. Inappropriate usage of sacred Hindu deities or concepts or symbols or icons for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.
Clothing companies should not be in the business of religious appropriation, sacrilege, and ridiculing entire communities. It was deeply trivializing of immensely venerated Lord Ganesha and goddess Kali to be displayed on leggings and shorts, Zed had emphasized.
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.2 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 had noted.
Zed had stated that such trivialization of Hindu deities was disturbing to the Hindus world over. 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. Goddess Kali, who personifies Sakti or divine energy, is considered the goddess of time and change. Some Bengali poets described her as supreme deity.
Liquid Dreams is a “lifestyle brand” which sells men’s and women’s apparel and accessories. It states to be creating “Functional Art For A Dysfunctional World”, claims “thoughtfully designed” products and adds that “Liquid Dreams is all about making the world a better place”.
However, you can still buy non-offensive items such as Ganesha Tapestry ($27.95), Ganesha Bandana ($12.95) and Ganesh Mask ($7.95) from company’s website.