Upset Hindus are urging Bentonville (Arkansas, USA) headquartered multinational retail corporation Walmart for immediate withdrawal of all 74 varieties of underwear carrying the image of Hindu deity Ganesh; calling it highly inappropriate.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that Bhagwan Ganesh was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to adorn one’s crotch or for “moisture-wicking” or for making underwear appear “sexy”. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols or icons for commercial or other agendas was not okay as it was painful for the devotees.

Zed, who is President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, also urged Walmart CEO Doug McMillon and its Board Chairman Gregory B. Penner to offer a formal apology, besides withdrawing Bhagwan Ganesh underwear.

Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion in the world with about 1.2 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed noted.

Zed further said that such trivialisation of Hindu deities was disturbing for the Hindus. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivialising it hurt the followers, Zed added.

In Hinduism, Bhagwan Ganesh is worshipped as a god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking.

Described as "Celestial Ganesh Blessings"; Walmart sells 74 different varieties of underwear for men, women, girls, boys, teenagers, and kids as briefs, boxer briefs, thongs, panties, pouch boxers and bikini panties from $15.99 to $19.99. These come as low-waisted, high-waisted, hipster, low-rise, G-String thongs, etc.

With fiscal year 2024 revenue of $648 billion, it is claimed that each week, approximately 255 million customers and members visit more than 10,500 Walmart stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. Its tagline is “Come for the Deals. Stay for the drama."

Image source: Economic Times