Brookvale Union continues to upset Hindus world over with juxtaposed Hindu images
The Sydney-based Brewery goes back on word, continues to circulate insensitive images of Hindu Deities <!more>
12 January 2015 Sydney: We, the members of the ‘Hindu Council of Australia’ deplore and condemn with utter dismay the trivialisation of Hindu Deities by Brookvale Union Brewery.
The Sydney-based brewery, had earlier in 2013 apologised and promised to re-design its bottles and packaging that had objectionable images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. It is shameful that the company had to go back on its words and continue to circulate the insensitive images on its marketing material and labels.
The issue was first brought to the notice of Brookvale Union, affiliated to Manly’s 4 Pines Brewing Company, in 2013. The label of this ginger beer bottle had juxtaposed images of Lord Ganesh’s face and Goddess Lakshmi’s body, besides displaying various other Hindu religious symbols. Brookvale had then committed to modify the material and had promised to come out with altered images.
“It is miserable that an organisation like Brookvale to commit the same blunder twice. They owe an apology to the entire Hindu community for hurting their sentiments once again. The promised changes have not gone far enough. Having images read more at – cialistoday of highly respected and regarded deities of Hinduism on beer bottles is very offensive,” said Nihal Agar, President, Hindu Council of Australia.
Undoubtedly, in so doing, Brookvale has desecrated the holiest figures of Hinduism offending hundreds of thousands of Hindus not only in Australia but millions of them all over the world.
We condemn such intolerant acts and on behalf of all the Hindus call on all those, at Brookvale Union and the other concerned organisations, involved in designing the offensive marketing material to take necessary actions in order to put an end to such horrible desecration of our faith.
It is unconceivable that such incidents have to occur in Australia which hosts some of the holiest Hindu temples. We urge the authorities to take appropriate and immediate measures against such unacceptable offense and its perpetrators. At the same time, we also ask Brookvale Union to acknowledge its responsibility and to officially and publicly apologise for this incident and never to allow its repetition.
We want also to appreciate those of various other communities in Australia, who are themselves appalled, and have expressed their dismay and protest over the misrepresentation.
Acts such as inappropriate usage of deities or symbols for mercantile greed have nothing to do with freedom of expression or art or entertainment. They can only work against national integration and harmony of any society.
We once again call upon all the concerned parties to exercise the utmost seriousness and restraint in dealing with this very important and delicate matter.
