Ohio firm puts Ganesha on mugs, tee-shirts

COLUMBUS: Indians across the USA have urged for the immediate withdrawal of tee shirt, tank tops, mug and blanket with Lord Ganesha’s image, calling these highly inappropriate.The products are sold by a Columbus OH company Print Syndicate

They have strongly objected to slogans/statements printed on these five products (marketed under its brand “Look Human”) around Lord Ganesha’s image, such as Namaste Bitches and Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe.

Taking lead, Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be trivialized on consumer products with such slogans. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.

With a chorus of protests joining him, he urged the Print Syndicate to withdraw these products from other vendors also besides its own website, and called upon its CEO Tanisha Robinson to offer a formal apology.

Print Syndicate claims to offer consumers access to timely, curated, well-designed and high-quality products that allow them to express who they are. Its “values” include integrity, compassion and fairness and its products (apparel, phone cases, house wares, etc.) are sold through the company’s six e- ommerce brands. Tagline of Look Human is “Dress Yourself To Express Yourself”.

Hinduism is 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 argued.

The trivialization of Lord Ganesha was disturbing to the Hindus world over.

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