The Hindu Forum of Britain has asked Hindus worldwide to boycott all French goods and participate en masse in the protest rally outside the French embassy in London on Sunday.
The forum has also asked Hindus to stop flying by Air France and write to the International Olympic Committee suggesting that the selection of Paris as a venue for the 2012 Olympics 'will not be' in keeping with the ethos of human rights and religious freedom.
Apparantly it is not the first time that American and European companies have tried to use images of Hindu Gods to promote their product. Watch this slideshow from Indiatimes which lists few such instances in the past and how the companies reacted to Hindu protests.
Following are images from the slide show:
 Ganesha Beer |  Holy Bikini! |  Sacred Seat |
Its interesting to see how all the companies reacted to the protests from a billion strong Hindu market.
Ramki said...
This blog entry was not intended to hurt the Hindu-sentiments. Lots of friends requested me to remove this particular entry as they claim it to be in bad-taste.
This article just shows the extent to which corporates go in order to sell a product. It is not just Hindu gods that have been used for advertising. I have seen lots of pranks and ads having Jesus, Virgin Mary and Prophet Mohammad used and abused in them.
So in a broader picture, this is just an elucidation of advertising and marketing in Corporate world. No spiritual link in this particular blog entry!!!
Rajan said...
What Marketing ?? How will putting an image of Ganesha on a beer bottle make it sell more. This is just insensitive bunch of fools trying to be 'creative'. Its not that they are trying to show that they are selling an authentic Indian product. This is why responsible global companies should have representatives from different races and nationalities on their management teams. Had there been an Indian in any of these marketing teams I seriously doubt if they could have gone through with it.
Shobhna Srivastava said...
i completely agree that "responsible global companies should have representatives from different races and nationalities on their management teams." the companies should have looked into what they were using to advertise their products.
but honestly i think the reaction way over the top. because i think it more important to stand up for things that Ganesh or Kali represent instead of where their photos are put up.
in austin near 6th street(if i remember the location right) there is a shop that sells "hindu"(i used quotations because i think it has nothing to do with hinduism only money making) products. there they have used the deities on boxes, t-shirts and things of the sort. thoes were not offensive. it is a matter of what purpose and where it is being used.
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