Hindus upset over Goddess in swimwear

Welcoming apology from Australian swimwear label Lisa Blue Swimwear, an upset US-based Hindu group has repeated its appeal of apology from Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) organizers also, which was held in Sydney (Australia) from May 2-6 and showed the model with Goddess Lakshmi image on swimwear.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on Tuesday said that RAFW organizers should show responsibility and consideration toward the hurt worldwide Hindu community and come out with a public apology. In future, they should be more careful about what went on in the fashion show.

Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities and concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, said Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism.

Zed pointed out that Australian Government, New South Wales Government, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, etc., who were said to be some of the RAFW partners this year, should reconsider the partnership in the future in view of its inability to halt the trivialization of highly revered Goddess Lakshmi.

RAFW, held this year against the spectacular backdrop of Circular Quay, is claimed to be Australia?s premier fashion industry event providing a platform for designers to showcase their wholesale collections to the world?s most influential buyers and media.