Retail Giant Accused of Trivializing Faith, Devotees Demand Apology for Misuse of Lord Ganesh’s Image
Bed Bath & Beyond, the Midvale (Utah) based retail giant, is facing intense criticism from the Hindu community for selling pillows adorned with images of Lord Ganesh, a revered deity in Hinduism. Devotees are demanding the immediate removal of the products, labeling them as highly disrespectful and hurtful to their religious sentiments.
DESK – The Hindu community is up in arms against Bed Bath & Beyond, a prominent retail chain headquartered in Midvale, Utah, for what they perceive as a blatant trivialization of their faith.
The company has come under fire for offering pillows featuring the image of Lord Ganesh, a highly venerated deity in Hinduism, which devotees argue is a grave misuse of their sacred religious iconography.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Nevada, Rajan Zed, a well-respected Hindu statesman and President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, condemned the retailer’s actions, emphasizing that Lord Ganesh’s image is meant for worship in sacred spaces like temples and home shrines, not to be used as a decorative element on pillows or for any other inappropriate purposes.
Zed asserted that the misappropriation of Hindu deities, symbols, or icons for commercial gain or other non-religious agendas is deeply offensive and hurtful to the sentiments of the faithful.
He called upon Bed Bath and Beyond’s leadership, including CEO Chandra Holt and Board Chairman Marcus Lemonis, to take swift action by not only removing the Lord Ganesh pillows from their inventory and website but also issuing a formal apology for the grave disrespect shown towards the revered deity.
Zed underscored the profound philosophical heritage and ancient roots of Hinduism, which boasts a global following of approximately 1.2 billion adherents, making it the world’s third-largest religion.
He argued that such a rich and diverse faith tradition should be treated with the utmost respect and not be subjected to frivolous or disrespectful portrayals.
The misuse of sacred religious symbols, regardless of the faith they belong to, is unacceptable and should be strictly avoided, Zed maintained.
The trivialization of Hindu deities has long been a cause for concern and distress among Hindus worldwide, Zed pointed out.
While the Hindu community staunchly advocates for the right to free artistic expression and speech, it also holds the belief that matters of faith are sacrosanct and should not be subject to mockery or disrespect, as it deeply hurts the sentiments of devotees.
In the Hindu tradition, Lord Ganesh is revered as the embodiment of wisdom and the remover of obstacles, and his blessings are sought before embarking on any significant endeavor.
The United States is home to a thriving Hindu population of approximately three million individuals.
The contentious "Shri Ganesh Pillow," which features the image of Lord Ganesh, is being sold on the Bed Bath & Beyond website in a range of colors, with prices varying from $24.99 to $30.99.
Bed Bath & Beyond is a subsidiary of the award-winning parent company Beyond, Inc., which prides itself on connecting consumers with products and services that enhance the potential of their homes. Beyond, Inc. also owns several other well-known brands, including Overstock, Baby & Beyond, and Zulily.
