Two Hindu gods, Ganesha and Lakshmi, have been edited into one on the label of an alcoholic ginger beer recently released by the Brookvale Union Brewery.
The Indian Australian Association of New South Wales says the imagery - which also features an animal regarded as sacred in India - is offensive to followers of the Hindu faith.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full interview)
Association President Doctor Yadu Singh was categorical in his denunciation of the labels.
“It is so cheap, it is so insensitive, it is so offensive,” he says.
According to Dr Singh, the brewery's actions have caused offence to observers of Hinduism across Australia.
“They don’t understand, they are very insensitive about the feelings of our religion. That is what really has caused upset to me as a person from that background, and, of course, thousands of people from that background all over Australia.”
Dr Singh says that the ignorance of brewery employees is to blame.
“The people who made this picture for marketing, they are not aware of the ingredients of Hinduism,” he says.
“This particular thing is extreme. Two religious imageries into one, with a funny one hand holding the head of the cow…this is actually the corruption of imagery.”
Dr Singh says the brewery should remove the product from shops, withdraw the current label design and associated marketing, and issue an apology.
“I believe they should apologise for doing this because they have hurt the feelings of these people who don’t deserve to be hurt.”
Dr Singh says if the requests aren't met he's willing to take the matter to court.
“We will explore every avenue… including legal action.”
The Brookvale Union Brewery says the label design was not intended to cause offence, and the company is looking at design options for its bottles.
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