NEVADA: Several upset Hindus are urging the European Commission to convince different headshops to withdraw cannabis paraphernalia with images of Indian deities. In a statement, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed said that Lord Ganesha and other Hindu gods depicted were highly revered in Hinduism and not meant to adorn ashtrays, bongs, rolling papers, and other products.
Several headshops in Germany, Netherlands and Spain, that carry paraphernalia used in the consumption of cannabis/tobacco and related items, have been known to sell products carrying images of the elephant God. Description of Ganesha wood chillum with a carved image of the God read; “Enjoy marijuana under the watchful eye of Ganesha”, “Hindu Collection” of rolling papers claims to show “all nine gods/goddess of the Hinduism”. Other photos include Gods Brahma, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Durga, and Lord Hanuman.
Zed said, “Hinduism was the oldest and the third-largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled.” He said such trivialisation of Hindu deities was disturbing to the Hindus world over.
