Urban Outfitters Pulls Lord Ganesh Blanket After Offending Hindus

Duvet covers have been removed from the Urban Outfitters website after Hindus protested, calling it inappropriate to feature a religious deity "not meant to be slept upon."

By
Michelle Broder Van Dyke
by Michelle Broder Van Dyke

BuzzFeed News Reporter

An Urban Outfitters duvet cover featuring Lord Ganesh was criticized by Hindus for being insensitive to their faith and has now been removed from the company's website.

Urban Outfitters

"Lord Ganesh was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines," said Rajan Zed, who spearheaded the campaign, "and not to be slept upon."

Before the duvet cover was removed from the Urban Outfitters' website, it was on sale for almost two weeks for between $129.00–$169.00 and was described by the Philadelphia-based company as an "UO Exclusive" and "topped with a standout illustration by the talented Valentina Ramos."

The company is still selling many other items designed by the Venezuelan-born graphic artist Valentina Ramos and was also selling Lord Ganesh pillowcases to go with the duvet cover.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, thanked Urban Outfitters for removing the item from its website, but said an official apology from Urban Outfitters was still due.

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters / Reuters

Lord Ganesh is worshipped as god of wisdom and removed of obstacles in Hinduism and members of the community protested the deity's image being featured on a duvet cover, saying it was highly inappropriate and trivializing.

"You can put him in a frame and on the wall. That is fine," Zed said. "But not to be put on the bed, on which you lie and your feet will go on. That is very inappropriate."

In December, Urban Outfitters removed socks from its website that featured Lord Ganesh’s image, after the Hindu community criticized placing the god on one's feet.

Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters has removed other items for offending other religious groups.

In 2012, the company sold a shirt that resembled the yellow Star of David patch Jews were forced to wear in Nazi Germany. In March of this year, the retailer was asked to remove a shirt that said "Jesus, I'm Drunk" with a picture of Jesus holding a beer.

Christian and Jewish leaders had joined with the Hindu community and called on Urban Outfitters to remove the Lord Ganesh duvet cover.

Mike Vo @DJMisterVee

@UrbanOutfitters What's next? Bed covers with Jesus? #hipsterbullshitstore http://t.co/ghramnLrRX

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