Sweet smell of success
MAJOR retailer Red Square has apologised to Hindus for stocking fragrances bearing the symbols of religious deities, and pulled the offending products from the shelves at its 32 stores in South Africa.
In an e-mail addressed to the South African Tamil Federation, the company’s marketing manager, Deidre van Heerden, said: “We would like to extend our sincere apologies to the Hindu community and the South African Tamil Federation for stocking Jean Paul Gaultier’s ‘Deity Summer Fragrances’, which are disrespectful and offensive to the Hindu community. It was certainly not our intention to offend, as we have a deep respect for all religions.
“The above-mentioned fragrances were removed from 32 Red Square stores on Tuesday (last week) and in future we will be much more circumspect with regards to the product we make available in our stores.”
Red Square, along with Edgars, Jet and CNA, is part of the Edcon group.
Federation president Karthi Moothsamy described the move as a “big victory”.
“When we learnt about the fragrances, we took up the issue with the highest authority, Edcon. They have given us the undertaking that they will be withdrawing their stock.
“We called them and told them that we were really offended that Hindu deities were being used for commercial gain. We also added that all religions teach consideration and respect for each other, and this will not be tolerated by our community.”
US-based Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who keeps a close watch on issues like this, said that Hindu deities shown on the bottles – Krishna, Lakshmi, Muruga and Radha – were highly revered in Hinduism and were meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines, and “not be thrown around inappropriately for mercantile greed.
“Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda is not okay as it hurts the devotees.”
Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, urged Marc Puig Guasch, chairman of Barcelona-based fashion and fragrance business Puig, to tender an official apology and immediately recall the objectionable fragrance bottles.
Ashwin Trikamjee, president of the SA Hindu Maha Sabha, said he was relieved by the development.
“However, these sort of incidents are happening too often. There is a perception that Hindus are tolerant and will withstand all this,” he said.
“It must be noted that the abuse of Hindu (deities) will not be tolerated.”
In October, online retailer Amazon.com removed a variety of women’s tights which depicted the images of Lords Shiva, Ganesha and Muruga, among others.