A fashion show has sparked a huge row after models wearing skimpy bikinis plastered with images of a Hindu goddess have enraged the religion who worship her.
Australian swimwear label Lisa Blue sent its models down the catwalk at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in Sydney last week, sporting bright swimsuits which had pictures of revered Lakshmi on them.
But when news of the show reached India Hindus -- who consider her to be the goddess of wealth, prosperity and fertility -- were incensed at the deity's image being used in such a sexy way.
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| Furious: Hindus brandish photos of the offensive swimwear and torch an Australian flag in Amritsar as they protest against the label and the fashion show |
Demonstrators in Amritsar, in Punjab, took to the streets and burned the Australian flag in protest, waving photographs of the offensive swimsuit and demanding that all of the garments be recalled.
The label, whose headquarters are in Byron Bay, Australia, have since apologised and promised the creations will never be available for sale.
Australia's Daily Telegraph reported that in a statement Hindu statesman Rajan Zed said that the apology was 'a step in the right direction'.
Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda is not okay as it hurt Hindus. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Zed added.
He told the North India Times that it was disturbing to see goddess Lakshmi, who was highly revered in Hinduism, on a swimwear displayed by a model at a fashion show.
He argued she was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not for pushing swimwear in fashion shows for mercantile greed of an apparel company,
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| Outrage at designs of deity: A model showcases designs by Lisa Blue on the catwalk during Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in Sydney which enraged Hindus |
Lisa Blue released the following response on Facebook: 'We would like to offer an apology to anyone we may have offended and advise that the image of Goddess Lakshmi will not appear on any piece of Lisa Blue swimwear for the new season, with a halt put on all production of the new range and pieces shown on the runway from last week removed.
'This range will never be available for sale in any stockists or retail outlets anywhere in the world. We apologise to the Hindu community and take this matter very seriously.
'Lisa Blue has been born out of a love of conservation, spirituality and a respect for all people. At no time would we ever have intended that the brand would cause offence.
'The use of images of Goddess Lakshmi was not in any way a measure of calculated risk taking, simply it was a desire to celebrate different cultures and share that through our brand.'
© Daily Mail, London
The Goddess
Lakshmi
Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity (both material and spiritual), light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm.
She is one of the most popular goddesses of Hindu mythology and is known as the goddess of wealth and purity.
Lakshmi is commonly portrayed as a beautiful woman with four arms, standing on a lotus flower. There is usually one, or sometimes two elephants behind her, anointing her with water. She is often depicted sitting beneath the god Vishnu, massaging his feet. Hindus Lakshmi bestows good fortune and success upon those who work hard and seek help sincerely.
It is said that Lakshmi resides in places of hard work, virtue and bravery, but leaves whenever these qualities are not apparent any more. |
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