November 9, 2008
Kartik Shuddha Ekadashi

Hindus have asked actress, supermodel, and producer Heidi Klum to tender a public apology for portraying as Goddess Kali at a Halloween party in a club at New York (USA), which they say hurt the feelings of devotees.

Acclaimed Hindu and Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Goddess Kali was highly revered in Hinduism and she was meant to be worshipped in temples and not to be used in clubs for publicity stunts or thrown around loosely for dramatic effects.

Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued that Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion followers and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. No faith, larger or smaller, should be ridiculed at, Zed said and added that inappropriate use of Hinduism concepts and symbols was not okay.

Hindus welcomed Hollywood and other entertainment industries to immerse in Hinduism but taking it seriously and respectfully and not just for indecorous showing of Hindu symbols and concepts to advance their selfish agenda. Casual flirting sometimes resulted in pillaging serious spiritual doctrines and revered symbols and hurting the devotees, Rajan Zed pointed out and added that their divine beings were not just costumes.

Meanwhile, various others, including Jawahar L. Khurana of Hindu Alliance of India, and A spirituality guide of Sanatan, have also criticized Klum for posing as Goddess Kali on Halloween, calling it "denigrating". Annabelle Younger of International Society for Krishna Consciousness, says, "I must vehemently protest this misguided abuse of the sacred religious symbols of the world's oldest continuous Religion and Culture…".

Nominated for five Primetime Emmys, German born 35 years old Klum is actress, model, producer, fashion designer, singer, and television personality.

Goddess Kali, who personifies Sakti or divine energy, is widely worshipped in Hinduism. She is considered the goddess of time and change. Some Bengali poets described her as supreme deity.

Source: zimbio.com

Denigration of Hindu Godesses through various mediums

1. Nude Durga Doll
2. 'Bayer' apologizes for denigration of Kalimata