Hindus in the US are angry over the alleged depiction of the deity Ganesha holding an alcoholic beverage and Lord Hanuman in an obscene pose shown in the June issue of Stuff, a popular US magazine.
Hindus in the US believe the illustration is defamatory to their religion. The graphics was drawn by Jason Johnston.
Yoga or sex postures?
India-West, an ethnic weekly published in the West Coast reported the illustration also contained a quiz asking readers to identify whether things such as zombies, downward facing bulldogs are yoga poses, drinks or sex positions. An insurance salesman from California, Nanoo Mahendru said he would consider taking legal action against the magazine if its editors do not issue an apology.
Mahendru even called the magazine’s New York headquarters as soon as he saw a promotional copy of the June issue last month.
“The editors said it is already printed and they can't do anything about it,” he said. He was also not offered the option of writing a letter to the editor that would be printed in the next issue.
“The editor’s attitude was, ‘This is our creation.’ If he had said sorry, that would have been the end of it,” said Mahendru.
In a letter to Stuff magazine’s editor-in-chief, blogger Snehal Avichal wrote: “If you were trying to make a bold statement like Serrano did with his photograph of a crucifix in a glass of urine, then come out and say it.