Hindus are expressing their disappointment with the retailer Bed Bath & Beyond, headquartered in Midvale, Utah, and are calling for the immediate removal of pillows featuring the image of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesh, which they find highly inappropriate.
Rajan Zed, a Hindu statesman based in Nevada, stated today that Lord Ganesh is a sacred figure in Hinduism, deserving worship in temples or home shrines rather than being printed on items used for sitting, sleeping, or decoration. Zed emphasized that using Hindu deities for commercial purposes or in trivial manners hurts the sentiments of followers and is disrespectful.
Zed, who serves as the President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, has called on Bed Bath & Beyond’s CEO Chandra Holt and Board Chairman Marcus Lemonis to not only stop selling these pillows but also to issue a formal apology.
Highlighting that Hinduism is the world's oldest and third-largest religion with a rich philosophical foundation, Zed remarked that religious symbols should be treated with respect, regardless of the faith’s size. He pointed out that while Hindus support free expression, trivializing sacred figures causes them distress.
According to Hinduism, Lord Ganesh, known as the god of wisdom and remover of obstacles, is traditionally revered at the start of any significant ventures and has about three million followers in the USA alone.
The controversial 'Shri Ganesh Pillow', available in various colors, is priced between $24.99 and $30.99.
Bed Bath & Beyond is part of Beyond, Inc., which also owns other retail entities like Overstock, Baby & Beyond, and Zulily. Beyond, Inc. focuses on connecting consumers with products that enhance the potential of their homes.
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