AliExpress Removes Controversial Lord Jagannath Doormat Amid Backlash
Controversy Surrounds Lord Jagannath Doormat
Following significant backlash, the Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress has taken down a contentious doormat featuring an image of Lord Jagannath from its website. Priced at approximately 787 rupees, the product titled 'Lord Jagannath Mandala Art Mat Doorway Non-Slip Soft Water Absorbent Carpet Krishna Jagannath Hindu Go' was criticized for being offensive, particularly in Odisha, where Lord Jagannath holds immense religious and cultural significance.
In a statement, AliExpress acknowledged the community's feedback, stating, 'The item has been reviewed and removed. The response from the community has helped us improve our platform and strengthen our content checks. Thank you for assisting us in creating a safe and friendly online shopping experience.'
Legal Action and Public Outcry
The administration of the Jagannath Temple lodged a police complaint on Thursday, asserting that this act has hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus worldwide. Odisha's Deputy Chief Minister, Pramila Mallick, condemned the sale of the doormat featuring Lord Jagannath's image, calling it 'offensive' and demanding an apology from the company.
Mallick expressed on social media, 'Lord Jagannath is deeply connected to the soul and emotions of every Odia. I strongly condemn the sale of doormats featuring His image by AliExpress. The company should immediately cease the sale of this product and apologize to the devotees for this offensive act.'
Cultural Significance and Further Reactions
In response to a post by Congress MLA Sofia Firdous on social media, AliExpress confirmed that the product had been removed. Firdous had previously criticized the act as blasphemous, stating, 'Selling doormats with the sacred image of Lord Jagannath is a grave insult to millions of devotees and a serious attack on cultural and religious sentiments. Immediate action must be taken to remove the listing and issue a public apology.'
The state government’s temple management body filed a complaint at the Puri Cyber Police Station due to public outrage over the doormat. Hemant Kumar Padhi, the temple administration's OSD (Security), noted in the FIR, 'We learned through TV channels and social media that an online company named AliExpress was selling doormats featuring the image of Lord Jagannath. This is an insult to millions of devotees and a serious attack on the cultural and religious sentiments of Hindus.'
Artistic Voices Join the Outcry
Prominent sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarshan Patnaik also condemned the act, emphasizing the need for respect towards religious sentiments. The incident has sparked widespread discussions about cultural sensitivity and the responsibilities of e-commerce platforms in handling religious imagery.