AliExpress Removes Doormat Featuring Lord Jagannath After Outrage In Odisha
The controversy erupted on Thursday when it came to light that the platform was selling a floor mat titled “Lord Jagannath Mandala Art Mat Doorway,” priced at Rs 787.65. The listing included promotional images of a model standing on the mat, which displayed a depiction of Lord Jagannath — a deity deeply revered in Hinduism and central to the cultural and spiritual identity of Odisha
Bhubaneswar: Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress has taken down a doormat featuring images of Lord Jagannath after the listing triggered widespread outrage in Odisha and beyond.
The controversy erupted on Thursday when it came to light that the platform was selling a floor mat titled “Lord Jagannath Mandala Art Mat Doorway,” priced at Rs 787.65. The listing included promotional images of a model standing on the mat, which displayed a depiction of Lord Jagannath — a deity deeply revered in Hinduism and central to the cultural and spiritual identity of Odisha.
Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida led the chorus of condemnation, calling the product “offensive” and demanding a public apology from the platform.
“Mahaprabhu Jagannath is deeply connected to the soul and emotions of every Odia. I strongly condemn Chinese e-commerce platform @AliExpress\_EN for selling doormats featuring Mahaprabhu Jagannath’s image. The listing must be removed immediately, and an apology is owed to all devotees,” Parida posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Responding to a post by Congress MLA Sofia Firdous, AliExpress confirmed that the product had been removed from its platform. The incident sparked widespread backlash, cutting across political lines. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik described the listing as a “shameless profanity” and demanded swift corrective measures.
“I vehemently condemn the egregious act of selling doormats with the sacred image of Lord Jagannath. This is an affront to the deepest sentiments of millions of devotees. Immediate action is imperative to restore the dignity of the revered deity,” Patnaik said in a strongly worded post on X.
Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik also voiced his dismay, urging global devotees to raise their voices.
“Jai Jagannath. We appeal to all devotees worldwide to protest this unacceptable act. The sacred image of Mahaprabhu Jagannath on a doormat is deeply offensive. Remove it, apologise, and ensure this never happens again,” he said.