Indian Fury at Hindu Goddess on Skimpy Swimsuits

[Blewvane]

The latest goddess-inspired collection from a whale-loving Byron Bay swimsuit designer has sparked outrage in India.

Demonstrators in Amritsar burned the Australian flag and waved placards on Sunday in protest at a skimpy swimsuit print depicting the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, which was shown at Australian Fashion Week.

The swimsuit, from Byron Bay label Lisa Blue, shows Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and beauty - on the front and back of the cutaway design.


Media in India expressed their dismay at the depiction, prompting the label's creator, Lisa Burke, to issue an apology on Facebook and Twitter.

"This range will never be available for sale in any stockists or retail outlets anywhere in the world," Ms Burke posted on the label's Facebook page on Saturday.

"We apologise to the Hindu community and take this matter very seriously."


But the statement was not enough.

Protesters who took to the street in the north west Indian city of Amritsar, waving photos of the swimsuit and burning the Australian flag, continued demonstrations over the weekend.

The Bharatiya Janata Partya party called for an apology from the Australian government, according to London's Telegraph.


And the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism was quoted in the North India Times saying the religion's deities deserved respect.

"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," president Rajan Zed said.

Ms Burke issued a second apology on Saturday afternoon, saying: "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".


A model parades swimwear featuring the Hindu god Krishna by Lisa Blue during the Australian Fashion Week. Photo: AFP

She also posted this statement: "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".

And a statement addressing the issue was posted on the label's website yesterday.

The label's Facebook page has become a site for vigorous debate over reactions to the print, which was shown as part of a divinity-inspired collection in Sydney on Thursday.

Ms Burke says she created the label Lisa Blue after having a life-changing moment in the presence of a Humpback whale and its baby in Tonga.

"'Lisa Blue' represents the girl of the future who can be sexy, beautiful, powerful and environmentally aware at the same time," she says on the label's website.

"She is not afraid to share her beauty with the world and so shows other girls that they too can shine."

The label says it donates 25 per cent of net profits towards protecting the whales and dolphins.

[Blewvane]

Goddamn shit for brained hindu cow fuckers burn our flag because they don't like the print on a bikini?? Are these filthy third world shit eaters trying to start a war??
We don't whinge about them not eating beef, which is the worlds best tasting meat, so why do they think they can whinge about a bikini print and have its production stopped.

[**butterflylove**]

Damn thats one hot looking Model But my heart is broken over my flag being burnt!! Its only a bikini. Burn the bikini (would be a shame its a nice bikini!) not the flag. Or how about burn nothing and just think of it as a harmless bikini that is just protraying how beautiful your "goddess" is. Oh and may I point out that none of those people pictured above the model ever have a chance in hell meeting or talking to someone in that bikini looking as hot as that chick

[Grey]

Good post. Daddy likey.

[Xfactor]

You can tell the dude in the first pic doesn't want to be there. His wife made him go.

[commondenom]

it's the muslim influence on hindus......another reason they must be destroyed, their negativity and insanity is infecting normal people now.....

[candymosh]

I've seen that image on clothes before. I wonder if they are really just pissed because it's on the bikini bottoms as well?

[Blewvane]

You know what really shits me?? It's that they have a good size digital print of the pictures i want but can't find.

[Blewvane]

I mean......look at the large high quality butt picture they have and look at the pissant one i found. Bastards!!! Flag burning, cow fucking bastards.

[güttsfükk]

i dunno if it's muslim influence on the hindus, since india and pakistan were 1 country but had to be split into two back in 1909, since the mozzies n hindus couldnt get along. and when britain left india became east pakistan, west pakistan and india..... (east pakistan became bangladesh later on)

but what i mean is, i cant see mozzies influencing hindus that much