Ganesha and beer?

Sama

Hmmmm...... read all about it.....
Kind of like selling chakra underwear (have seen it advertised in "trendy" yoga mags) or putting AUM on socks.....


Ganesha Likes Beer?

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Merchant

Stuff like this happens all the time and a maha kerfuffle ensues. "India Abroad" will be eaten up with it for weeks.

oldhippie

This happens all the time. I recently saw toilets on sale in China with pictures of Indian gods on them and in the bowl itself. The Indian community was mad but in China no one really gives a toss about anyone.

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Vasko

Here's a picture of the label. Ganesh looks pretty sloshed from what I can tell. Not good. Then again the image of Jesus has been used on all kinds of consumer products here in the West. People need to lighten up.

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crvlvr

If the manufacture has the trademark registered, the consumer has no legal recourse -- other than creating bad PR for the manufacturer. And yes, the US Patents and Trademark Offices allow applicants to trademark Hindu gods. Even the Indian govt allows it.

ddevadatta

As a business man I have never understood why companies use religious icons and images (especially in parody and even mockery) for their labels, their marketinmg campaign, etc. While I see that controversy could drum up temporary sales, the long term effects are detrimentle.

I think hit such companies where it hurts. Do not buy their dam products.

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Yetijuice

Thanks for posting a thumbnail of the Lost Coast Brewery Indiga IPA label, Vasko! I have been drinking Indiga IPA off and on for the past four years. Lifetime I have purchased more than a case (24 bottles) of it. Currently my favorite IPA brewed in California is Hop Ottin' IPA made by the Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

Barbara Groom, co-owner of the Lost Coast Brewery, must be a Stanford University graduate. In the mid-70's Stanford changed its mascot from Indians to Cardinal to Trees. In the actual student body vote Robber Barons won. The Board of Regents disallowed that nickname, believing that donors would be offended.

Barbara, don't agree to drop the Ganesh beer label at the first threat of a lawsuit. The Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, and Washington Redskins did not change their nicknames. Those teams have more intestinal fortitude than Stanford University!

A Cleveland Indians cap with a grinning Chief Wahoo on the front is a great conversation piece to wear when walking into a bar. You may have seen me wearing a Cleveland Indians hat in Kulu Valley or Goa.

If law student Brij Dhir is successful in removing Ganesh from Lost Coast Brewery beer labels what will be next--Mormons removing the Polygamy Porter "Bring some home for the wives!" beer slogan? We want some mirth and merriment with our beer!

This class action lawsuit had better be expanded to include more than just the Safeway chain of grocery stores. Indiga IPA is for sale at Whole Foods Market in Tustin, California. It is also for sale at a health food store near Raley's supermarket in Mt. Shasta City, California. If Ganesh is pulled from the shelves, Indiga IPA beer labels will become collectibles and their price will go up on eBay! Better stock up now on Indiga IPA!

crvlvr

But when the product is aimed to the illeterate masses of India, religious symbols on the package serve as quick way identify your product. Whst is more common in India is to use numerals as the brand name. Number and pictures tend to cross all language barriers in India -- something if written as a word will have to be in 20-30 languages to achieve.

Hyderabadi

And then there's Ganesh Beedi - can't seem to find a working website but sold and exported by 'Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works, Head Office:Mysore.
US seems to have banned them though. One report.

ddevadatta

I think that the mere use of such a religious symbol is not so much in question as what seems to be a mockery. I can't tell from the picture f Ganesha looks like he had too much of the beer. Assuming that is true, then I think there is a legitimate debate and room for pressure; whether by lawsuits or just people saying they won't buy that product.

I think the free market amd consumers will finally determine this, as it ought to be. A lawsuit will surely raise awareness. My own perspective is that companies run a greater risk with their marketing campaign and labels, etc. when they tread on thin ice. Whether this one is on thin ice we will have to see.

By the way I do not follow Ganesha personally, I just have this thing about marketing (and art: reember the Christ crucifix in a jar of urine passed on as art) and religious icons and symbols...

andygoodyear

I agree that this could be seen as offensive to some Hindu's but the christian god is potrayed in different media all the time. How many episodes of the Simpsons have featured god, contradicting what is said in the bible?

I think the person filing the lawsuit is good for raising awareness, but $1 Billion damages! This is surely a joke and if a court award any money to him, then this world is more screwed than I thought. A legal case should be brought to remove the image, but seeing as the company have already offered to do this why does the individual feel he needs $1 Billion. Thats a lot of offence and emotional distress if you ask me.

crvlvr

IMHO, the law will allow only allow the person who owns the trademark to sue the other person who is violating it. The this guys who decides to sue the beer company, really has no claim -- unless he owns the Ganesh trademark for beer. Public sentiment is another matter. Hindus have typically not reacted strongly (or unitedly) to the desecration of their religious symbols. But, some other religions react more strongly. Remember the fatwa issued against Salman Rushdie for his book Satanic Versus?

Indojingai

Anyone who has visited India would know... EVERYTHING there is religious!! Everything ... damn everything .... (I dont like that myself.. in fact that is one of the reasons why there is less development than say... China)

Where else do you see a new tv being worshipped ...

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ddevadatta

I haven't followed the specifics of this lawsuit, as to the damages and claim for $1 billion. I was also unaware that the company is now willing to pull the label. Assumming this is all factual, I am pleased that the free market priciples have worked and the company has wised up.

My comments have nothing to do with any particular religion at all, as if one religion has a corner over against others. I think it is just wise marketing stretegy not the cross that line no matter what the religion might be. Some areas are best left alone and for me at least it would be religious icons, symbols that people cherish and in many cases view as even sacred.

This is more in the dumb column (I mean the company itself) than anythingesle.

machadinha

No! Who did that? Cool!

LOL Indojingai, it's fantastic yes. I don't know about Japan but in Thailand the house idol gets a Pepsi or a Fanta in the morning (or pretty much anything else that is at hand), I thought that was pretty funny.

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