Ventura firm urged to withdraw Lord Ganesha yoga towel

Madhu Patel

CHICAGO: Upset Indian Americans here have urged Ventura (California) based clothing company “Zen Fuego” to withdrawal of yoga towel carrying image of Hindu deity Lord Ganesha, calling it “highly inappropriate”.

RajanZed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, observed that Lord Ganesh is greatly revered deity meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to lie/sit/stand/tread/walk on or put abdomen, ankles, body, buttocks, calves, feet, genitals, groin, heels, hips, knees, legs, thighs, toes, umbilicus, etc. on or for absorbing/handling/wiping one’s sweat. Any Inappropriate usage of sacred deities or concepts or symbols or icons for commercial or other agenda is not okay as it hurts the devotees. He urged “Zen Fuego” to withdraw the objectionable Lord Ganesha yoga towel.

 Clothing companies should not be in the business of religious appropriation, sacrilege, and ridiculing entire communities. It was deeply trivializing of the immensely venerated Hindu deity Lord Ganesha to be displayed on a yoga towel.

Hinduism is 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; Zed noted. In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking.

This objectionable Lord Ganesha “Microfiber Yoga Towel with silicone dots” claims to give you “improved grip for sweaty yoga or a soft place for your Yin practice” and contain “super absorbent microfiber”. Priced at $45, its description states: allow Ganesha to help you remove obstacles from your path. “Zen Fuego”, which claims “enlightenment through awesomeness”, sells yoga towels, women’s tops, men’s tees online.