Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Kent store removes ‘highly inappropriate’ swimsuit featuring Hindu deity following outrage

The store was also urged to issue a formal apology.

Kent store removes ‘highly inappropriate’ swimsuit featuring Hindu deity following outrage

A sporting goods shop in Whitstable, Kent, has removed a swimsuit featuring Hindu deity from its online collections following protest from the community.

Water Polo Shop came under fire after starting to market a swimming suit with a picture of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesh,


Lord Ganesha, also known by the names Ganapati and Ganesh, is an elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings who is typically worshipped before commencing any significant endeavour. He is also the protector of scholars, bankers, scribes, and authors.

Followers of the religion urged the store to remove the item. They described the plan an attempt to ‘trivialise’ the faith and a form of ‘religious appropriation’.

The design, which is owned by a separate company called BBOSI, has now been removed from the Water Polo Shop website. According to reports, the store was also pressured to issue a formal apology.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in the US, said: “Lord Ganesh was greatly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be tightly wrapped around your body as a fashion statement or facilitate your perspiration or catch your body fluids.

"Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols or icons for mercantile or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.”

Zed, who is president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, said that Hindus agree with free artistic expression and speech but trivialising faith was 'painful to the followers'.

"Sporting goods retailers shouldn't engage in religious appropriation, sacrilege, or the denigration of revered Hindu deities. To flaunt the greatly admired Lord Ganesh in this way was terribly trivialising," he pointed out.

Waterpoloshop Ltd is a family business run by the Millward-Hulme family. It aims to provide great customer service and goods at a competitive price, according to the company website.

The company supplies water polo, swimming, diving, underwater hockey and underwater rugby related goods to both clubs and individuals worldwide.

Hinduism is the world's third-largest, with over 1.25 billion followers.

More For You

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case
Bhim Kohli

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case

THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday (5) that the teenager’s sentence will now be considered by the Court of Appeal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attends a prayer meet held for his long life at the Dalai Lama temple in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

THE Dalai Lama said on Saturday (5) he hopes to live until he is more than 130 years old, two decades longer than his previous prediction, following his assurance to followers that he would reincarnate as the spiritual head of the faith upon his death.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking during a ceremony organised by his followers to offer prayers for his long life, ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday (6), and as China insists it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama told Reuters in December he might live to 110.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK heatwave by mid-July

Daytime temperatures meeting or exceeding set thresholds of 25°C

iStock

Met Office warns of potential third UK heatwave by mid-July

Key points

  • Met Office forecasts rising temperatures by mid-July
  • Possible third heatwave after record-breaking June
  • High pressure system likely to bring hot air from the Atlantic
  • Yellow rain warning and flood alerts issued in parts of Scotland and Cumbria

Possible heatwave to return by mid-July

The UK could experience its third heatwave in a month by mid-July, the Met Office has said. Forecasters expect rising heat and humidity during the second weekend of July, following two weekends of unusually warm weather in late June.

June was officially the hottest on record in England, and the return of high temperatures could mean another heatwave for parts of the country. However, the Met Office cautioned that it is too early to confirm how hot conditions will get.

Keep ReadingShow less
crypto

Two men have been jailed for defrauding investors of £1.5 million through a fake crypto investment scheme. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Two jailed over £1.5m crypto investment scam

TWO people who duped investors of £1.5 million by selling fake investments in crypto have been jailed for 12 years, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said.

Raymondip Bedi, of Bromley, and Patrick Mavanga, of Peckham, conned at least 65 people by cold-calling them between February 2017 and June 2019. They operated companies including CCX Capital and Astaria Group LLP.

Keep ReadingShow less
Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.

A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less