Hindus are calling out Swiss fashion label Philipp Plein Group to change the name of some of its shoes named after Ganesha and Kali, two important deities in the Hindu pantheon.
Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, stressed that the inappropriate use of Hindu deities, concepts and symbols for commercial or other untoward purposes offends practitioners.
In addition, Zed pointed out that linking the shoes made of 100% cow leather with Hindu deities was very improper, the Punjab News Express reported.
For those who may not know, Ganesha is an elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings whose name both means “Lord of the People” and “Lord of the Ganas.” Ganas are the goblin hosts of Shiva, a main deity represented in various forms.
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Ganesha, also called Ganapati, is also believed to be a remover of obstacles.
Kali, on the other hand, is a goddess of time, doomsday and death. She is often characterized as being blue or black, with multiple arms holding decapitated heads, and may or may not be fully naked. Shiva is her husband.
Check out the shoes in hot water and their corresponding prices below:
It is unknown whether Philipp Plein would be willing to rename the shoes.
Featured Images via Philipp Plein Group
