CHARLOTTE: A Charlotte (North Carolina) based fashion active wear company “GearBunch” has severely hurt the feelings of a large number of Indian Americans by offerings leggings, capris and bedding carrying images of Hindu deity Lord Ganesha. A chorus of protests against this insulting action has been made to the company management
The protest is led by Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism who said that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and is meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to adorn one’s legs or to be slept upon. This Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda hurt the devotees.
The company, GearBunch and its CEO are urged to withdraw Lord Ganesha leggings, capris and bedding besides offering a formal apology to the members of the community
Hinduism is 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 observed.
GearBunch, which claims to “combine fashion with activewear”, specializes in “women’s workout leggings” and offers “hand made” in USA “all day active wear”. Its mission includes “trendy products for the bold, style aware global girl, who always pushes the boundaries, works hard, plays harder, looks amazing, and believes in herself”.
Lord Ganesha leggings, capris and bedding set are priced at $87.99, $79.99 and $189 respectively.
In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
India Post News Service
