NEW YORK: Members of Indian community at large are upset at the denigration of Lord Ganesha by a NY fashion firm which has depicted the deity on the pants sold by them. They have called for immediate withdrawal of the product. Sold by a New York City headquartered designer yoga and active wear firm Nóli Yoga Clothing, the pants have offended the religious sentiments of Hindus.
Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, with the huge backing of right minded community members, has urged Nóli to withdraw these pants from other vendors also besides its own website. He said that Lord Ganesha is a highly revered by followers of Hinduism as he is meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be worn around one’s legs. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurts the devotees.
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one 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.
Madhu Patel, founder President of NRI Press Club, also decried this trivialization of Lord Ganesha dubbing it as highly disturbing to the Hindus world over. “We have never shown our displeasure over free artistic expression and speech but commercialization of something sacred needs to be looked down upon. “Any attempts at trivializing it hurts the followers”, Zed added.
Yoga pants which Hindu devotees are finding objectionable are called “Graffiti Yoga Pants” ($68), which are claimed to “allow ease of movement that lends to our ability to explore and discover your creativity within the yoga”.
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.
“Eco friendly” Nóli, whose tagline is “where yoga fashion and performance meet”, sells yoga pants, capris, shorts and tops; mostly aimed at women.
With offices in New York City and manufacturing in Los Angeles and Miami, it claims providing “balance between fashionable and comfortable active wear”, “designed to fit and flatter”, and leggings “sleek enough to wear for any occasion off the mat”.
Neela Pandya
