Upset Hindus have urged “Bond Street Chocolate” of New York to withdraw its “Ganesh Chocolate”, which is a figurine of Hindu deity Lord Ganesh made with chocolate, calling it highly inappropriate.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that Lord Ganesh was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be eaten casually.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged Bond Street Chocolate to show some responsibility, respect and maturity; understand the hurt feelings of Hindu community and stop manufacturing Ganesh shaped edible chocolates.

Rajan Zed indicated that inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees. It was highly insensitive to create an edible Hindu deity.

Zed further said that such trivialization of Hindu deity was disturbing to the Hindus. Hindus were for free expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more, but faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it tormented the devotees, Zed pointed out and added that businesses should be respectful to various faith traditions.

Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed noted.

In Hinduism, Lord Ganesh is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking. Moksh (liberation) is the ultimate goal of Hinduism. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

Bond Street Chocolate makes and sells various chocolate varieties; including many types of Bon-Bons (handmade truffles featuring unique flavors and spirits), bars and other treats; which include Tequila Ganache Bon Bons, Milk Chocolate Tiles with Szechuan Peppercorn, Race Cars and African Mask. Its edible Ganesh chocolate, showing a standing figure of Lord Ganesh, contains 72% chocolate dusted with 24 carat gold, and is priced at $15.