New Delhi, India - HINDUS HAVE strongly objected to Vogue India editor remarks about Hindu gods, in which she was quoted as saying ‘neither the rains nor the Hindu gods could stop the shoppers from coming’ to Fashion’s Night Out.
Shopping extravaganza ‘Fashion’s Night Out’ is being spearheaded by Vogue globally, which it is labeling as ‘biggest fashion party in history’ and ‘global celebration of fashion’ and will be held in September this year. Indian Vogue editor Priya Tanna reportedly told WWD: “Fashion’s Night Out last year was the first luxury shopping festival to take place in India. It followed three consecutive days of rain and took place during an inauspicious time on the Hindu calendar for buying expensive items. But neither the rains nor the Hindu gods could stop the shoppers from coming."
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada, United States of America, said that Hindu deities were meant to be worshipped in temples and home shrines and not to be trivialised in the fashion world. Vogue should not unnecessarily drag Hindu deities in promoting its fashion extravaganzas.
Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that trivialisation of deities hurt the feelings of devotees and Vogue should not take it lightly.
Meanwhile, Bhavna Shinde of Forum for Hindu Awakening has asked Vogue and its India editor Priya Tanna to immediately tender a formal apology on this issue and refrain from insulting Hindu gods in the future. Vogue and its editors should be focusing more on fashion-celebrities-beauty-trends-shopping and not challenging the powers of Hindu gods, Shinde added.
Founded in 1892, Vogue, a monthly fashion-lifestyle magazine, is published in 19 editions worldwide by New York based Condé Nast Publications, which is a subsidiary of Advance Publications Inc, a privately held communications company headquartered in Staten Island (New York). Samuel l. Newhouse Jr is the CEO of Advance Publications while Charles H. Townsend is CEO of Condé Nast.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.