Luxury retailer Harrods has agreed to stop selling a handbag following concerns raised by the Hindu community according to MyLondon news. The brand received complaints after it sold a Judith Leiber multi-embellished clutch designed in the image of Lord Ganesh on its website.
Reach India UK raises awareness of Indian cultural heritage and recently expressed the offence that the leather bag had reportedly caused among the Hindu community. The bag, which retailed for £6,430, was one of more than 70 accessories in the Judith Leiber collection.
Nandini Singh, 50, of Reach India in a statement to MyLondon said, "Our simplicity and our beliefs are mocked by Harrods. The deity we worship is sold in leather. How much further will they go to hurt Hindus for their profits? Why did they do it?"
She added that selling the items was "very insensitive" and hurtful and questioned whether the store could not do basic research.
She further noted, "Lord Ganesha, who Hindus worship, is made in clay or metal or marble. Was Harrods ignorant that Hindus do not even wear footwear in the pooja or prayer room? This was a clear case of disrespect by Harrods and it needs to ensure this never happens again."
