Urban Outfitters offends Hindu community yet again

Brand found itself in hot waters for yet another offensive product – the Lotus Jewellery Stand

Retail stores usually find inspiration in emblems and symbols, but at times the inspiration turns ugly and downright insensitive. Urban Outfitters, not new to controversy, found itself in hot waters for yet another offensive product found on its shelves. This time it was over a ceramic Lotus Jewellery Stand.

The Hindu community was outraged over the ceramic stand which depicted the multi-armed Hindu deity Lakshmi sitting on a lotus.

Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, immediately took to Twitter to express his concern over the matter and asked for the product to be removed. We urge #UrbanOutfitters to withdraw #Hindu goddess #JewelryStand, as goddess is meant to be worshipped and not for holding “rings + things,” he tweeted.

Twelve hours after protest from the Hindu community, Urban Outfitters withdrew the product from shelves. “Thanks #UrbanOutfitters for understanding #HinduCommunity concerns by removing product trivializing Hindu deity within 12 hours of #protest.”

Although Rajan thanked the Philadelphia-based retail company for taking action soon, he acknowledged that the company made no attempt to apologise for the inconvenience, especially since this is not the first time they have found themselves involved in a controversy like this.

In 2013, they were under fire for selling socks which featured Hindu deity Lord Ganesh. “Lord Ganesh is highly revered in Hinduism and is meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be wrapped around one’s foot,” said the statement by Rajan, reported Huffington Post.

Soon after, the socks were pulled out of stores and an official statement from an Urban Outfitters spokesperson was released apologising for offending its customers. “We sincerely apologise if we offended the Hindu community and our customers. We appreciate Rajan Zed and the Universal Society of Hinduism for bringing this matter to our attention and for helping us understand the cultural and religious sensitivities this product carries. We will remove the Ganesh Socks immediately from our website and stores.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th,  2015.

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