February 01, 2014:New York (USA) based “Mara Hoffman” has removed swimwear carrying image of Hindu Lord Ganesh from its website within 24 hours after Hindus protested, calling it inappropriate.

 Product search with “Ganesh” on its website returned no results this evening. “Neiman Marcus” and Amazon.com, who also carried “Mara Hoffman” swimwear with Lord Ganesh image, also seem to have removed it from their respective websites.

 Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who spearheaded this protest, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, thanked “Mara Hoffman”, “Neiman Marcus” and Amazon.com for understanding the concerns of Hindu community, which thought Lord Ganesh’s image on swimwear was inappropriate.

 Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also urged Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and “Saks Fifth Avenue”; who were still carrying “Mara Hoffman” Lord Ganesh image swimwear on their respective websites; to withdraw it. Zed asked “Mara Hoffman” to urge these companies to also recall this swimwear, one of which was priced for $275.

 Rajan Zed, suggested corporations to send their senior executives for training in religious and cultural sensitivity so that they had an understanding of the feelings of customers and communities when creating new products or launching advertising campaigns.

 Zed had earlier said that Lord Ganesh was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not for pushing swimwear for mercantile greed. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.

 Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed had argued.

 Zed had also pointed out that such trivialization of Lord Ganesh was disturbing to the Hindus world over. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt the followers, Zed added.

 Mara Hoffman, who launched her first collection in 2000, is usually heavily focused on prints.

 In Hinduism, Lord Ganesh is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking. There are about three million Hindus in USA and moksh (liberation) is the ultimate goal of Hinduism.

Pennsylvania to host a new Hindu temple 

A former bingo hall near city airport is to be converted to a Hindu temple by International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation (ISSO).

Reports suggest that this temple complex, which includes worship and meeting areas and priest’s quarter, is expected to be complete in 4-6 months and zoning approval has been obtained. Currently, area Hindu families drive around 90 minutes one way to reach another temple near Cherry Hill in New Jersey. Project leaders include Mike Patel.

Meanwhile, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on Thursday, applauded efforts of temple leaders and area community to realize this Hindu temple complex.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple complex would focus in this direction.

Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

ISSO’s prime objective is “to advance the Sanatan Dharma, in accordance with the principles and teachings of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, founded and ordained by Lord Shree Sahajanand Swami”.

Shree Koshalendraprasadji Maharaj is the current Acharya of this global network headquartered in Ahmadabad (India), which “is fully committed to bringing the divine teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan to followers all over the world”.

Liberty Bell was successfully hidden in Allentown, two-time winner of the All-America City Award, which was settled in 1751. Ed Pawlowski is the Mayor, while Julio Guridy and Ray O’Connell are President and Vice President respectively of the City Council of Allentown.

Prominent people associated with Allentown include former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca; actresses Amanda Seyfried, Michaela Conlin and Christine Taylor; football players Ed McCaffrey and Andre Reed; golfer Gloria Ehret; and author Lauren Weisberger.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three millions Hindus in USA.