Swimwear firm apologises for carrying Goddess images on bikini

The firm also assured that it had stopped production of the swimwear and removed it from runways.

An Australian swimwear label company,which triggered a controversy by depicting an image of Goddess Lakshmi on a bikini bottom and front of a model,has apologised to the Hindu community for hurting their sentiments.

“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 removed,” said a statement issued by the Lisa Blue Swimwear.

The swimwear company carried an image of Goddess Lakshmi on a bikini bottom and front of a model who walked the ramp at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in Sydney last week. “This range will never be available for sale in any stockists or retail outlets anywhere in the world. We apologize to the Hindu community and take this matter very seriously,” the statement said.

Story continues below this ad

The apology came after Indian community strongly protested the depiction of Goddess images on swimwear,saying it has hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community.

The protests touched based in India too. BJP had on Sunday strongly condemned the alleged use of image of a Hindu goddess on swimwear by a designer during the Australian Fashion Week and demanded an apology from the government of that country.

“The Indian government should immediately summon the High Commissioner of Australia and issue a strong warning,” city BJP President Vijender Gupta told a ‘Yuva Aakrosh Rally’ organised by the party’s youth wing BJYM here.

The Australian designer has already apologised for the use of the image but Gupta said the government there should say sorry to the people of India for hurting religious sentiments. “If our demand is not conceded to,the BJP will go to the people on this issue,” he said.