A New York-based Indian food brand has faced criticism online after users noticed that the idol of goddess Lakshmi had been removed from the packaging.The controversy began after a post on X, an Indian-American account known for highlighting issues related to Indian-Americans, went viral, blaming the brand for the sudden change.The account criticized the brand for replacing its longstanding deity-themed logo with a “pointless, confusing illustration.” “Did you remove it to attract buyers who think Lakshmi offended them?! Bring her back!” it concluded. The account has 44.2K followers on X, and its callout quickly gained traction on the app, sparking debate about the reasons behind the sudden change. The post quickly gained traction online, sparking a wider debate about religious imagery on consumer packaging.The account, which has 44,200 followers onSome users admit that images of gods on packaging have made them uncomfortable in the past. “I don’t know, man. I actually go out of my way not to buy this brand because it has idols of gods on the packaging. It’s almost impossible to throw an empty package in the trash,” one customer explained. However, they also ponder whether the brand has made changes to open it up to a wider audience because “at the end of the day, it’s about the money.““I think they removed it so as not to offend anti-Hindu haters,” the post’s author replied.Others have expressed similar concerns about the handling of packaging with religious imagery. “It’s always a dilemma for me to buy something with a deity on the packaging. What do you do with the packaging after you’ve used the contents? You don’t want to throw it in the trash.” I avoid the agrabatti brand for the exact same reason. I’m relieved in a way,” wrote another. One user added: “Yes, this brand has been losing money trying to cater to ‘South Asians’.” “Omg this is terrible. I trust this brand too,” another person supported. Interestingly, most users in the comments seemed happy with the move, with some even calling for greater action to ban the use of god and goddess idols on packaging that was ultimately discarded. During the debate, one user pointed out that the packaging changes were not recent. Their brand made the change a few years ago, based on feedback from customers who couldn’t throw away the packaging but also faced difficulties collecting it. “They did this years ago and wonder if you’re just now realizing they did it based on customer feedback because they can’t throw and they can’t accumulate,” they wrote. According to a video shared on the brand Youtube Channel, the packaging’s logo changed in 2020. “Your favorite food brand Laxmi now has a new logo,” the video reveals, revealing the new logo for the lotus, a flower primarily associated with and considered beloved by the goddess herself in Hindu mythology. The brand sells a variety of South Asian products, including spices and food products, and was founded in 1972 by GL Soni and his brother KL Soni as House of Spices in Jackson Heights, New York. It has several stores in the United States, catering primarily to a South Asian consumer base.
