Aussie supermarket giant ALDI has pulled a range of bathroom mats from sale after Hindu community members discovered the products, including a toilet contour mat, were named after Lord Shiva, one of Hinduism's most sacred deities.
The Kirkton House bath mats and house runners, listed on ALDI's website with product variants named ShivaDarkForest, ShivaNightShadow and Surya Multi (Surya is the Hindu Sun God), were due to go on sale nationally on June 10. They will not.
The product page now returns a dead link – “Sorry, we couldn't find that page!”.
ALDI Pulls Offensive Bathroom Mats
ALDI confirmed the names have been scrubbed from its website and the planned launch is off. "ALDI takes these concerns seriously and prides itself on being respectful of cultural considerations," a spokesperson told SagaTimes.
"ALDI apologises to the Hindu community for the offence caused. The style names have been removed from our website, and will not be used when the products go on sale on June 10."
The Hindu Council of Australia had last week flagged the products directly to Federal Member for Parramatta, Dr Andrew Charlton. His office said it was resolved the same day.
"I thank ALDI for listening to the concerns of the community and acting swiftly to remove these products," Dr Charlton said in a statement provided by the HCA. "The Hindu community is proud, diverse and deeply valued across Australia. I will always stand with them when their faith and sentiments are disrespected."
Hinduism Is Third Largest Religion In Australia
Australia's Hindu population has grown substantially over the past decade. India is now the top country of birth for new migrants arriving here.
According to the 2021 census, Hinduism is the third-largest religion in Australia, with nearly 684,000 adherents, mainly migrants from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
It is Australia's fastest-growing religion, having increased by more than 148 per cent in the decade to 2021.
Parramatta, where the complaint originated, is home to one of the country's largest Hindu populations.
Hindu Council of Australia National President Sai Paravastu thanked the MP for acting without delay. "We sincerely thank Dr Charlton for listening to our concern with such respect and for acting so promptly. His support means a great deal to the Hindu community across Australia."
For Hindus, placing a deity's name on a floor product, especially one designed to sit at the base of a toilet, is considered deeply disrespectful and sacrilegious. Lord Shiva is one of the principal gods of the Hindu Trimurti, worshipped by hundreds of millions worldwide.
This is not the first time a global retailer has been caught out this way. Amazon faced backlash over Hindu deity bathroom products in 2019 and 2020, Wayfair pulled Shiva and Ganesha bath mats after protests, and Shein removed a Ganesha doormat as recently as last November.
