July 9, 2009

Burger King’s run-in with a Hindu goddess


by David Masters

Fast food chain Burger King has apologised to Hindus for running an advertising campaign displaying a Hindu goddess above a meat sandwich.

Hindus around the world were outraged by posters in Spanish Burger King stores displaying the goddess Lakshmi, a meat sandwich, and the phrase “La Merienda es Sagrada” – “A snack that’s sacred”.

Hinduism is renowned for encouraging its adherents to follow a strict vegetarian diet, avoiding meat and eggs. Cows are a sacred animal for Hindus.

Burger King has apologised for the adverts and removed the posters.

“We are apologising because it wasn’t our intent to offend anyone,” said Denise Wilson, Burger King spokesperson, speaking the day after a complaint from the Hindu American Foundation (HAF).

“Out of respect for the Hindu community, the limited-time advertisement has been removed from the restaurants,” Wilson added.

HAF said it was “pleased” that the advertising campaign had been cancelled.

“An advertisement knowingly and intentionally using sacred symbols, especially those of another religious tradition, for purely commercial purposes can be offensive,” said Suhag Shukla, managing director and legal counsel for the HAF.

“Compounding this insult is the use of the sacred image for the sale of a meat product.

“Burger King’s judgement in associating a burger with a Hindu goddess is absolutely baffling.

“Of course we would hope that such misjudgement did not occur in the first place, but we are indeed pleased to hear of Burger King’s move.”

Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of beauty and good fortune, and is also known as ‘world-mother’.

Discuss this in the Interfaith forums

Story link: Burger King’s run-in with a Hindu goddess


Bookmark and Share

Related stories:

 

Leave a Reply




 

Previous: « Islamist preacher recalled to jail
Next: Christians fear being ‘gagged’ on homosexuality »

Visited 735 times, 1 so far today