Thong with Hindu symbol sparks protests in US

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Thong with Hindu symbol sparks protests in US

 

Hindu activists in the US are up in arms against a popular online

store that is selling women's undergarments bearing the images of

Hindu Gods and icons.

 

"iGod -- Shiva classic thong: Namaste it loud. You're Hindu and

you're proud!" exults CafePress.com, the online site, in an ad for

women's thongs priced at $15 apiece.

 

Another thong bears the 'Om' icon. "Om, or rather 'Aum' is a sacred

Hindu symbol that represents the absolute, the ultimate reality, the

source of all existence, the beginning and the end" is the sales

pitch.

 

Spearheading the protest for withdrawing this product line is

American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), a group that has run some

successful campaigns against misrepresentation of Hindu images and

symbols.

 

But this time round, it has drawn a blank. A week after it shot off

a missive, it is still to hear from CafePress, whose website is

still offering the controversial innerwears.

 

CafePress's irreverence is not restricted to Hindu symbols.

Christian, Buddhist and (till a few days ago) Sikh religious symbols

have also been featured on innerwear. A wide range of thongs, with

the face of Jesus and some highly objectionable language, is on

offer.

 

Last week, protesting Sikh groups succeeded in getting the company

to withdraw thongs with 'Khanda', the emblem representing the four

pillars of Sikh belief. The campaign against the "offensive and

degrading pieces of clothing" was led by the World Sikh Council --

America Region.

 

"We would like to bring to the attention of US retailers that it was

tacky when Madonna used Christian imagery to sell her wares and it's

just as offensive to conscript any other faith's symbols for similar

purposes," said Toronto Star.

 

Source: Hindustantimes.com

 

 

Images at:

http://www.cafepress.com/cp/browse/?

Nao=1&No=1&Nty=1&Ntk=All&N=1301&Ntt=shiva&x=0&y=0&pp=

--- End forwarded message ---