Vogue editor apologizes to upset Hindus

Jyeshtha Shuddha Shashthi, Kaliyug Varsha 5112

From Our Correspendent

Vogue India editor, who made Hindus upset by her reported remarks challenging Hindu gods, has apologized.

Priya Tanna, editor of Vogue India, in a communiqué to Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, said: “The intent behind my quote was certainly not to upset anyone or hurt the sentiments or the followers of any religion. Being an Indian and a proud one at that, I do not take my religion, or anyone else’s, lightly, and would never mock it in any manner, either personally or professionally. If you have felt otherwise, please accept my apologies.”

Hindus have earlier strongly objected to Tanna’s remarks about Hindu gods, in which she was quoted as saying “neither the rains nor the Hindu gods could stop the shoppers from coming” to Fashion’s Night Out.

Shopping extravaganza “Fashion’s Night Out” is being spearheaded by Vogue globally, which it is labeling as “biggest fashion party in history” and “Global Celebration of Fashion” and will be held in September this year. Vogue India editor Priya Tanna reportedly told WWD: “Fashion’s Night Out last year was the first luxury shopping festival to take place in India. It followed three consecutive days of rain and took place during an inauspicious time on the Hindu calendar for buying expensive items. But neither the rains nor the Hindu gods could stop the shoppers from coming."

 Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on Wednesday, said that Hindu deities were meant to be worshipped in temples and home shrines and not to be trivialized in the fashion world. Vogue should not unnecessarily drag Hindu deities in promoting its fashion extravaganzas.

Rajan Zed further said that trivialization of deities hurt the feelings of devotees and Vogue should not take it lightly. Bhavna Shinde of Forum for Hindu Awakening also stated that Vogue and its editors should be focusing more on fashion-celebrities-beauty-trends-shopping and not challenging the powers of Hindu gods.

Now Shinde is asking Tanna to publish this apology in the next edition and website of Vogue India. She stresses that Tanna and Vogue should refrain from insulting Hindu gods in the future.

Founded in 1892, Vogue, a monthly fashion-lifestyle magazine, is published in 19 editions worldwide by New York based Condé Nast Publications, which is a subsidiary of Advance Publications Inc., a privately held communications company headquartered in Staten Island (New York). Samuel l. Newhouse Jr. is the CEO of Advance Publications while Charles H. Townsend is CEO of Condé Nast. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.