Lisa Blue 'Lakshmi' Swimsuit Causes Outrage Among Hindus (PHOTOS, POLL)

A swimsuit featuring a print of Hindu goddess Lakshmi has caused quite a stir among Hindus, Fashionising writes.

Lisa Blue recently sent the number walking at Australian Fashion Week. It features a vibrant image of Lakshmi across the front and along the rear.

The label was called out by statesman Rajan Zed, who "said that it was disturbing to see goddess Lakshmi, who was highly revered in Hinduism, on a swimwear displayed by a model at a fashion show. Lakshmi was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not for pushing swimwear in fashion shows for mercantile greed of an apparel company," according to the North India Times.

Australia's Daily Telegraph notes, "Indian activists of the right-wing Hindu organisation Shiv Sena held photocopies of models wearing swimwear featuring Lakshmi as they burned an Australian flag during a demonstration in Amritsar."

And Fashionising reported receiving tons of comments after posting a photo of the model wearing the swimsuit in question on its site: "Largely aimed at the label and its designer Lisa Burke, they've ranged from statements of concern to mild slurs, and at the other end of the spectrum have also included curses and all out death threats."

Lisa Blue released the following response on Facebook:

We would like to offer an apology to anyone we may have offended and advise that the image of Goddess Lakshmi will not appear on any piece of Lisa Blue swimwear for the new season, with a halt put on all production of the new range and pieces shown on the runway from last week removed.

Lisa Blue has been born out of a love of conservation, spirituality and a respect for all people. At no time would we ever have intended that the brand would cause offence. The use of images of Goddess Lakshmi was not in any way a measure of calculated risk taking, simply it was a desire to celebrate different cultures and share that through our brand.

Take a look and tell us what you think.

Quick Poll

Lisa Blue's Lakshmi swimsuit:

Truly OFFENSIVE! But at least the designer took action...

OVERBLOWN! It's not really a big deal...

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

The back:

Indian activists during the demonstration:

Comments

[Its ya girl]

04:10 PM on 05/20/2011

I think the Goddess is beautiful. I can understand it being offensive as my mother embedded in me that Catholics are never to wear the portraits of Virgin Mary, Jesus, or saints as fashion. Wearing a rosary as jewelery was also disrespectful and sac-religious. But, nothing seems to be off limits these days and I don't take it so seriously. Too bad it doesn't spread appreciation of other religions and tolerance. They could include a small tag that explains who she is on the garmet but I don't know how "chic" that would be.

[Cat Rennolds]

05:52 PM on 05/17/2011

What I find really funny about this is that Lakshmi, the Goddess herself, probably loves this swimsuit. She's the goddess of Beauty and Prosperity! How could She be offended at somebody using Beauty to become Prosperous in her name?

[SoldAmerican]

03:51 PM on 05/12/2011

I want a picture of Dalai Lama performing CunnIingus on mother Mary.

[Phillip Rhoades]

07:20 PM on 05/12/2011

I think that says more about you than this situation does about Lisa Blue and us "lefty jerks". Out of curiosity how do you jump from Lakshmi on swimsuit bottoms to "Dalai Lama performing Cunnilingus on mother Mary"? Do you understand scale?

Or how about turning your own comment on your choice of words: "Being a bigot and being insensitive to others"? Your hate and vitriol is more than ironic.

[SoldAmerican]

08:20 PM on 05/12/2011

Its my free speech to give offense. Just like lefty liberals feel they have a right to give offense. The degree of offense is not an issue here or point of discussion. Capish?

[SoldAmerican]

08:33 PM on 05/12/2011

You lefties pull a knife on someone, the victim does not necessarily have to stop just with a knife. They have a right to pull out a gun for self defense!

Understood?

[SoldAmerican]

03:45 PM on 05/12/2011

When the Pastor burned the Quran in S.Carolina a few days ago. The LEftyu liberals where here denigrating him as intolerant. What happened. Its not PC to denigrate Islam..but if its Hindusism, its A-kok eh? Freaking lefty jerks!

[Cinquopated]

05:20 PM on 05/12/2011

I have my own opinions about this. One should be respectful to ALL people. At the same time, do you really not see that burning a Q'ran is not an act of violence while a swimsuit is just misinformed and inappropriate merchandizing. Why is burning the American flag illegal but a flag T-shirt isn't?

[SoldAmerican]

08:29 PM on 05/12/2011

Burning the American flag is not illegal. However Patriots have a right to display their displearue at you if you do burn it.

[Phillip Rhoades]

07:16 PM on 05/12/2011

Not sure you actually desire an engaging comment but I will do so anyways. The situations are fundamentally different. Intent plays a role in the context of how we analyze situations. Burning the Q'uran is fundamentally a social and political statement. The individual wanted to provoke either his congregation or others, likely both. That action, book burning, has a long history and specific meaning. On the other hand, placing a deity on textiles has no such intent (as the creator stated). Some may view it as: misguided, offensive, or denigrating. But that is not its intended purpose.

Context matters. You may dislike so called "lefty jerks" but this is a poor example to use to support your idea.

[SoldAmerican]

08:22 PM on 05/12/2011

I believe the intent of the person who put that out was to humiliate Hindus in the process gain notoriety for her design.

[DannyGee]

01:20 PM on 05/12/2011

Hindus are such hypocrites. They pretend things like homosexuality and prostitution don't exist while engaging in them secretly. The guys in the picture surely "handled their business" to that suit picture.

[Ken Sipp]

04:14 AM on 05/15/2011

So True...!

[Set to Jet]

10:10 PM on 05/15/2011

You of course see that the same thing can be said about Christians, right?

[oldstuff]

06:04 AM on 05/12/2011

That's right! Being upset at a woman s body and a religious symbols use is the best way to run a country.

[SoldAmerican]

03:52 PM on 05/12/2011

Being a bigot and being insensitive to others and then being upset with people expressingnt heir outrage is the best way to run a country.

[oldstuff]

04:27 PM on 05/12/2011

weird much?

[Joe in Hollywood]

04:22 AM on 05/12/2011

Looks like the Goddess is inside the swimsuit.

[Ken Sipp]

04:15 AM on 05/15/2011

Absolutely..

[PsychicTuesday]

04:19 PM on 05/18/2011

I third that 100%.

[thereisonlyoneparty]

01:53 AM on 05/12/2011

Dollars to doughnuts says that those photos ended up stuck together after the activists went home.

The only thing I find wrong with that swimsuit is that it leaves too much the imagination.

[Bob Pell]

06:57 PM on 05/11/2011

I wonder if she would be interested in modelling my line of prophet Mohammed swimsuits? I'll have to call her.

[SoldAmerican]

03:38 PM on 05/12/2011

Obama's girls pictures when they turn 18 as well.

[Ken Sipp]

04:19 AM on 05/15/2011

just do it and see the consequences .. there are more extremists in Islam than hindus and they are not coward..

[Fra59e]

04:33 PM on 05/11/2011

Exactly why does religion need pampering with special protection more than any other human activity?

[thereisonlyoneparty]

01:51 AM on 05/12/2011

Because once you throw magic into something then people start acting like it is more important than everything else.

[Loxinabox]

12:43 PM on 05/11/2011

Oh the gay boy are here again little commies afraid of everything

[Set to Jet]

10:11 PM on 05/15/2011

What does that mean?

[Loxinabox]

12:41 PM on 05/11/2011

Looks like good eating to me!

[Terry Lanthier]

03:37 PM on 05/11/2011

Lol! :)

[deepseabarbie]

11:53 AM on 05/11/2011

HONESTLY I WOULDNT WANT TO WEAR A SWIMSUIT WITH A PICTURE OF JESUS ON MY CROTCH OR ANY RELIGIOUS GOD FOR THAT MATTER......?_? SORRY NOBODY HAS RESPECT ANYMORE! BYE LOSERS!

[oldstuff]

06:05 AM on 05/12/2011

Jesus crotch undies? I love it!!!!!!

[cmann63]

10:47 AM on 05/12/2011

Better yet - crotchless jesus panties. I might even buy a pair and I'm, a dude.

[Roshan Shiwcharran]

11:38 AM on 05/11/2011

this is ridiculous....if she want to show off herself then don't wear anything....why having to stoop to mixing something sacred into this vulgar display. She it stupid to do something like this......

[jedwards71]

10:05 AM on 05/11/2011

Not too outraged to parade all over the place with those sweet snaps to make sure the entire world gets to see them. Without your hyper-ridiculous reaction, I probably never would have seen them. Thanks India! (And aren't these the same guys who light women on fire when they've decided they'd like a new wife? As far as cultural differences, it might as well be a different planet...though, they can send her to whatever planet I'm living on. I'm good with that.)

[Minnow008]

11:38 PM on 05/11/2011

it's a minority of villages where that still happens--the burning of women, that is. It's not like it's happening every day in every city. And besides, just because some people do that doesn't mean this swimsuit makes any more sense. After all, two wrongs don't make a right.

[jedwards71]

12:22 AM on 05/13/2011

Different cultures. Beating women is wrong no matter where you live and where I live it happens every day but there are better things to be upset about than a bathing suit. That's all. I agree that two wrongs don't make a right but personally, find the fact that people are outraged over this to be a waste of their time and energy when they could be doing something to actually help people. I'm sure that if they were out doing something nice for people, it would never be written about but that would be better than the ease with which people seem to have when it comes to screaming about something as silly as a swimsuit.

[parajn]

10:54 PM on 05/12/2011

As if nothing happens where you live, hate crime like, sikh guys are considered muslim and shot at often.

[jedwards71]

12:18 AM on 05/13/2011

I live in Los Angeles where people do nothing BUT shoot at each other. So you've got me there. I just think that people need to make decisions based more on the reality of life and not so heavily on religion. My comment about it being a very different culture really was meant to just say nothing more than that. It's a different culture and that's why it seems so crazy to us. Men beat women here and it's just as wrong as it would be anywhere else. I and the place where I live are far from perfect but I definitely think there are many other things that people should consider much more important than that. Sorry to have upset you.