Hindus Call for Withdrawal of “La Bayadère” Ballet from Hungarian State Opera

Rajan Zed Urges HSO to Apologize for Inappropriate Selection

Rajan Zed, President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, has called upon the Hungarian State Opera (HSO) to withdraw the ballet "La Bayadère," scheduled for June 14-27, 2025, in Budapest, citing concerns over the trivialization of Eastern religious and cultural traditions.

DESK – Rajan Zed, President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, has called upon the Hungarian State Opera (HSO) to withdraw the ballet "La Bayadère," scheduled for June 14-27, 2025, in Budapest, citing concerns over the trivialization of Eastern religious and cultural traditions.

In a statement issued in Nevada, USA, Zed argued that the taxpayer-supported HSO should refrain from promoting the appropriation of traditions and ridiculing entire communities.

He described the ballet as a "blatant belittling of a rich civilization" and an exhibition of "19th-century orientalist attitudes."

Zed urged HSO, the only classical ballet company in Hungary, to demonstrate maturity in its selections and avoid ballets that perpetuate ethnic stereotyping and cultural misrepresentation.

He criticized the ballet for its "patronizing flawed mishmash of orientalist stereotypes, dehumanizing cultural portrayal, offensive and degrading elements, needless appropriation of cultural motifs, essentialism, shallow exoticism, and caricaturing."

Zed called upon HSO General Director Szilveszter Ókovács, Ballet Director Tamás Solymosi, and Artistic Director András Almási-Tóth to re-evaluate their systems and procedures and provide cultural sensitivity training to their executives.

He also urged the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation, led by János Csák, and the Hungarian National Cultural Council to reconsider their relationship with HSO if it continues to showcase ballets like "La Bayadère."

Zed emphasized that while ballet is a revered art form, the outdated "La Bayadère," first presented in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1877, is long overdue for permanent retirement from the world stage.

The two-hour-55-minute ballet, choreographed by Albert Mirzoyan and conducted by Gábor Hontvári, Máté Hámori, and Domonkos Héja, is a classical ballet in three acts.

HSO, founded in 1884, claims to be "striving for world-class quality in all our productions."